Opposing Prop. 56

The political committee Californians Against Higher Taxes has begun a television advertising campaign opposing Proposition 56. That March 2 ballot measure, called the Budget Accountability Act, would make it easier for the Legislature to pass the state budget and other financial measures by lowering the threshold of votes needed from two-thirds of both houses to a 55% majority.

Title: “Tax Increases”

Producer: Woodward & McDowell

Script: A woman speaking directly to the camera says: “State law says that before the Legislature can increase taxes, they need a two-thirds vote. That’s a good thing. It means they can’t increase taxes as often as they’d like. But Proposition 56 gets rid of that law. Fifty-six makes it much easier for them to increase taxes -- property tax, sales tax, income, car, gas taxes.” As she speaks, the taxes she lists appear on the screen with her as text. “They want to make it easier for them to increase our taxes,” she says. The ad ends with a graphic that says, “NO on 56.” An announcer then says: “Vote no on 56. It’s just another blank check for the Legislature.”

Accuracy: The 30-second ad is part of a campaign funded largely by gasoline and liquor companies to stop the ballot measure. The initiative would, indeed, make it easier for the Legislature to raise taxes. But it would also make it easier for lawmakers to pass a budget without new taxes. The state is one of only three that require a two-thirds vote of the Legislature to approve any budget. The ad’s suggestion that the measure would clear the way for a host of tax hikes fails to take into account that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has vowed to veto any such increases. Even if the initiative passed, it would still take a two-thirds vote to override a veto.

Analysis: Proposition 56 is packed with additional provisions, such as docking the pay of lawmakers when a budget is late and establishing a rainy day budget reserve to fall back on in deficit years. In public opinion polls, voters have supported the initiative when it is pitched to them as a package. But when the lowering of the threshold to raise taxes is highlighted, support drops off dramatically. Opponents are seeking to portray the initiative as about one thing only: making it easier to raise taxes. They are confident that if they can get that message across to voters, the measure will be defeated in March.

Compiled by Times staff writer Evan Halper

Los Angeles Times