Proposition 13 Two-Thirds Vote Requirement Protects Taxpayers

by Henrietta “Etta” Waterfield, former Santa Maria Planning Commissioner, Candidate for the 33rd Assembly District seat

Do you know what Sacramento is trying to tax? Vehicle registration tax, sales and use tax, services tax, property insurance tax, tobacco tax, alcohol tax, ammunition tax, oil severance tax—even SUV mileage tax—are a few taxes recently proposed in Sacramento. That’s because years of over-spending have put California in a deep budget hole and, rather than cut spending, the Sacramento liberals would rather raise taxes on hard working Californians to pay for it all.

Thanks to the landmark Proposition 13 taxpayer protection initiative of 1978, it takes a 2/3 vote in the legislature to raise taxes or pass a budget. That 2/3 vote protected California taxpayers this year when Assembly and Senate Republicans held firm and demanded no new taxes in the budget.

Californians are already overtaxed, and taxpayers have made it clear that they will not accept more taxes—as the rejection of Props 1A-F and the ongoing Tea Parties prove. The 2/3 majority requirement ensures that Sacramento legislators will not take the easy way out by trying to tax their way into a “balanced” budget. The requirement ensures that all Californians benefit from the decisions made in Sacramento—not special interests and not the majority party.

That would explain why most Democrats in the Assembly want to end the 2/3 vote requirement for taxes and budget. But what doesn’t make sense is the small handful of Republicans who have also pushed to replace the 2/3 vote requirement with a 55% majority. This move would effectively hand Democrats complete control over the state budget and allow them to raise taxes without any opposition from Republicans.

California’s fiscal problems are not caused by the 2/3 vote requirement. Rather, our state suffers because Sacramento overspends year after year and then raises taxes and fees to make up the difference until businesses shut their doors or move away.

The 2/3 vote requirement and the responsible legislators that protect it are the only things keeping this state from being taxed into oblivion.

I strongly support Proposition 13’s taxpayer protections, and I have pledged to defend the 2/3 vote requirement for new taxes. That’s why I have been endorsed the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (namesake of Prop 13 author) and the National Tax Limitation Committee.

Representatives in Sacramento must protect taxpayers with the 2/3 vote requirement—and taxpayers must protect themselves by electing responsible representatives.

Republican economic growth expert Etta Waterfield has spent the past decade improving the Central Coast’s economy and business climate. As the Economic Developer for the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce, Etta has worked to attract new businesses and foster favorable economic conditions in the area. She also served for the past six years on the Santa Maria Planning Commission.

Her service led Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee to name Etta Waterfield the 2009 “Woman of the Year” for the 33rd Assembly District. Blakeslee praised her stating that she possesses an “energy and a grace that inspire people to work with her.”

AB 32 and SB 375 -- Local Solutions Need to be Creative and Practical

by San Luis Obispo County 4th District Supervisor Katcho Achadjian, Candidate for the 33rd Assembly District seat

AB32, known as the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, requires greenhouse gas emissions be reduced to 1990 levels by the year 2020 (a 25% reduction) and 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. SB 375 requires smart or strategic growth policies in Planning organizations.

In SLO County, employee commute is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. With Global Warming in mind, the County Government is developing several ideas and policies for its 2,500 employees to help reduce emissions. Carpools, flexible work schedules and telecommuting are among these ideas. These are creative and practical methods to use. The challenge to comply with AB32 and SB375 comes from emissions that the county has no control over such as traffic on Highways 101 and 1 which are two major North/South transportation corridors connecting California’s major cities.

The impact of these two Bills on our local economy and future job opportunities is a concern. How will it affect new businesses wanting to locate to California if they need transportation of their goods and materials to outside markets, equating to more vehicle miles? I have concerns when the reduction of vehicle miles affects the ability of local businesses and agriculture to operate efficiently or prevents tourists from visiting our beautiful Central Coast.

I also see an impact that will burden new construction adding greatly to the cost of new homes. Due to Title 24, newly built homes today are 50% more energy efficient than those built 10 years ago and additional energy efficient requirements may make the cost of new homes unaffordable. Smart Growth encourages reduction of emissions by placing more development inside urban areas but does not necessarily take into account the resources available within each urban area such as water, sewer, roads, infrastructure etc. We end up penalizing rural development with higher fees and reduced land usage.

We need to continue to be flexible and creative with solutions to Global Warming and be cautious about creating onerous rules and regulations which will hurt or destroy our local businesses, tourism, agriculture and way of life for Central Coast residents.

Katcho Achadjian has been a small business owner for 31 years and has served on the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisor since 1999. In 2006, he was appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger to the California Coastal Commission where he continues to serve as a Commissioner.

Katcho is a graduate of California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo and holds a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in International Management. He is active in many civic community based boards including Five Cities Rotary Club, Latino Outreach Council, First Five Commission, CenCal Health and the SLO Law Enforcement Assistance Foundation.

Katcho's Assembly candidacy website can be found here.

Conservatism

by Mayor Pro Tem Fred Strong, City of El Paso de Robles, Candidate for the 33rd Assembly District seat

Traditional Republican conservatism is institutional, not social, in nature. It commands respect for the basic principles of the Constitution, Bill of Rights and foundation philosophies of freedom found in these and other documents such as the Magna Carta.

It involves a love of freedom, equality and nation. It commands a respect for all ways of life and life styles that reciprocate that respect and embodies a love for diversity of opinion and lifestyle. It is big enough to include all those who desire and respect its laws and founding principles. It is proud enough to exclude those who seek to destroy its foundations.

It values mutual respect and balance among governing institutions and governance that guides without dictating. It demands a strong defense against enemies both foreign and domestic. It requires commitment to basic health and safety institutions for a secure society and commerce.

It requires that each level of government stay within its bounds, respect all other levels and jurisdictions and their prerogatives, and hold sacred the equal rights of each individual citizen.

Underpinning all societal philosophies are the basic tenets of civilization that include civility, order and both institutional and territorial defense. Civility is exemplified in clear and diplomatic discourse. Order by agreed upon common law. Defense takes place through an enforceable judicial process and a strong military presence to maintain territorial integrity.

A type of social conservatism has emerged taking religious tenets and attempting to institutionalize them within political systems. Social conservatism cannot be enforced through political systems without jeopardizing basic tenets of institutional conservatism. Individual rights cannot be politically maintained in a system that forces religious beliefs upon a populace. Where individuals are not able to maintain a non-intrusive personal lifestyle of choice, freedom languishes. Worldwide this is exemplified in societies that suppress individuals and groups based upon gender, race, religion or other basic characteristics of nature or belief.

Each generation is tested by various aspects of these principles and has to deal with challenges to its way of life. As a people granted freedom of thought by a gracious God and freedom of respectful action by restrained governance we have thus far successfully innovated technology and variation of response to specific situations.

My personal application of these principles can be found at www.fredstrong.com.

Fred Strong has been political since his teens at every level of government in America.

He has had leadership roles in the areas of revenue and taxation, transportation, employment, housing, blight elimination, economic strategies and development, sales and use tax reform, agribusiness, natural resources, health and safety, civil rights and energy efficiency.

He has served on local, regional, state and national political groups. He is the Mayor Pro Tem of Paso Robles and currently serves on numerous regional and statewide policy bodies. His research library and institutional memory in Sacramento goes back 40 years.

For a more detailed biography, click here.