Making It Easier to Pass a State Budget

Re “Yes on Proposition 56,” editorial, Feb. 8: This is one citizen and taxpayer who disagrees with your editorial. I don’t care how many states have different procedural rules for getting a budget approved, and I don’t care how many nonprofit lobbying organizations support the passage of Proposition 56. They don’t pay taxes in California.

This state needs more, not fewer, safeguards from a Legislature made up of professional politicians, most of whom have never worked in a real job in their lives, eating at the public trough that always seems to get bigger (raises and benefits for them) when everyone else has to settle for less. I am voting no on Proposition 56 because I am in favor of the little guy: someone who actually pays taxes.

Kenneth W. Keller

Valencia

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I am not in favor of paying more taxes than what is absolutely necessary for our state to function at its optimum efficiency. But I also have never understood the undemocratic policy of giving those voting no twice the voting power of the “yes” votes when it comes to increasing taxes. Californians should be aware that if Proposition 56 becomes law, it will still be necessary for there to be just over 22% more “yes” votes than “no” votes to pass a tax increase.

We and our children are going to pay a terrible price down the road if we can’t fund essential healthcare and education -- just to mention two programs that are currently in dire straits.

George Schroedter

Glendora