I picked up a rumor over a month ago that I originally didn’t put much faith in that if tax measures were defeated in November the governor may order a special election in 2013 to quickly put another tax measure before voters. I’m reconsidering and now think its possible.
The idea that such a move would not happen was based on the thought that if more tax measures were defeated in November – that would make about seven or eight tax measures that have gone down at the hands of voters recently – the “no more taxes” message would have been sent and no one would try again soon.
However, the counter argument went that the governor and legislature would have to make severe cuts if taxes failed at the polls, and the cuts would be used to convince concerned voters to back a tax increase in a special election.
From a strategic perspective, if a tax proposal in a special election is the only tax measure on the ballot – something that probably will not be the case in November – then, the theory goes, it has a better chance of passing.
The rumor has credibility now after reading the conclusion of Anthony York’s Los Angeles Times article last Monday, which discussed how Governor Brown reached a compromise on the tax initiative with the teacher’s union.
The journalist wrote, If voters reject the measure, Brown said, he will find another revenue plan. “I would have to do another initiative and put another tax on,” he said.
If the tax measures fail in November a special election is probably headed our way. That would mean other interests might want to share a special election ballot with the governor and would start qualifying measures earlier than expected for the next election cycle. Something to watch for.