Call a cop. A law is being broken. A bunch of legislators are trying to raise taxes using a simple majority vote. That is against the main law of the land, the California Constitution.

Unfortunately, the track record of the California legislature in abiding by the constitution is not so good. Legislators make a practice of breaking the law of the land on a regular basis. I draw your attention to Article IV, Section 12, paragraph C (3): The Legislature shall pass the budget bill by midnight on June 15 of each year. How often does that happen?

Some legislators feel they can treat the law like a unique puzzle, arranging the pieces so as to reach their goal, regardless of what the rules say.

Based on the example set by the legislature, I guess its okay to run a red light. Just tell the officer who pulls you over, I know the law but I’m late for an appointment and I thought it was more important to get to the appointment than to stop at the red light. That’s what the legislature would do. Ends justify the means.

Sorry, but the red light is there for a purpose. So is the constitutional provision to get a two-thirds vote to raise taxes. The people have determined to make it a little harder for the politicians to get into their wallets.

If legislators don’t like the two-thirds vote on taxes, then ask the people to repeal it. That occurred in 2004 with Proposition 56. The voters said “No thanks,” and overwhelmingly defeated that measure two to one. Trying to sneak around a constitutional provision the people established and reaffirmed just pushes the legislature’s reputation to lower levels – if that’s possible considering the latest polls.

On top of that, legislators are putting their energy in raising taxes that make no economic sense. Establishing an oil severance tax on top of taxes the oil business already pays will only increase the price at the pump. Most, if not all, oil taken from the ground in California is refined and stays in the state. If oil production is discouraged with a new tax, California will become more reliant on foreign sources.

The cigarette tax is a declining resource. When taxes are raised, they usually don’t produce the anticipated revenue. Check out the record on the sales tax that went up a penny on April 1. The returns have been disappointing. With cigarette taxes, you get double whammy: Revenue down because consumers will seek other avenues to avoid the tax, and revenue declining because of the reduction in smoking. You can’t balance a budget with a cigarette tax.

The legislature should follow the constitution. Either get a two-thirds vote to raise taxes or balance the budget without tax increases.