Home California Melendez Introduces Measure to Require All New Taxes Be First Approved By the Voters

Melendez Introduces Measure to Require All New Taxes Be First Approved By the Voters

by ECT

SACRAMENTO – Assemblywoman Melissa A. Melendez (R-Lake Elsinore) introduced legislation, Assembly Constitutional Amendment 29, to require every tax increase approved by the California State Legislature to first be approved by the voters before it goes into effect.

“For too long, the Democrat-controlled Legislature has used the people of California as an ATM. They tax and spend with little regard for the middle class Californians they claim to protect,” said Melendez. “California has the highest poverty rate in the nation, yet the Legislature’s solution is raising taxes by nearly $7 billion just last year alone.”

In 2017, the California Legislature created nearly $7 billion in new taxes consisting of a new $300 million annual housing tax, $1.5 billion annual vehicle registration tax, $2 billion annual environmental Cap-and-Trade tax, and a $2.9 billion annual gas tax.

“As the highest taxed state in the nation, enough is enough. Enough with having the poor and middle class shoulder the burden of every new tax. Enough with funneling tax dollars to pet projects where they don’t belong,” said Melendez

Under current law, the California State Legislature can increase taxes with a 2/3rds vote of both houses and the Governor’s signature. While local taxes and bond measures require voter approval, establishing and increasing statewide taxes do not.

Assemblywoman Melissa A. Melendez represents the 67th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake, Murrieta, Menifee, Wildomar and a portion of Hemet. It also includes the Riverside County unincorporated areas of Lake Mathews, Good Hope, Nuevo, and Winchester. Follow her on Twitter: @asmMelendez

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3 comments

John Feb 28, 2018 - 9:21 am

Finally some common sense in Sacramento. But the Dems won’t let this measure pass

American Feb 28, 2018 - 10:23 am

Are you serious? All new taxes should already require a vote of the people by 2/3 rds !

Thanks Melendez for reiterating and making a law for this. The gas tax should have never happened without a vote of the people. This is why the voters will repeal it.

Carina Feb 28, 2018 - 8:52 pm

Does the measure only cover all “new taxes”? This should include voter approval to raise any tax.
Both the new and existing taxes.. George Bush Senior played that card with the whole “Read my lips, no new taxes.” He certainly didn’t have a problem raising existing taxes.

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