The Think Long Committee has yet to file an initiative in support of its blueprint for radical restructuring of the state’s tax and governance system and time is running short. Word is the committee is having second thoughts about whether to put initiatives on the 2012 ballot or wait until 2014.
The committee, made up of an A-list of California former politicians, business executives and billionaires, could play a dynamic role in next year’s election when — and if — they file and pursue initiative proposals.
Even at this late date, the Think Long Committee is still polling it’s ideas with California voters to see how they react to suggestions of taxes on services or a super committee that can put initiatives on the ballot, among other ideas. Poll results may determine if the committee goes forward now or decides an education campaign is in order so that the public would be more receptive to the committee’s proposals in a 2014 election.
If the decision is not to pursue the $10-billion tax increase incorporated in the Think Long proposal for the November 2012 ballot no one in the state would be happier than Governor Jerry Brown.
Brown’s own tax initiative calling for income and sales tax increases would have a tougher time gaining acceptance if other tax measures are on the ballot. Brown is currently trying to clear the field of other tax measures such as the one offered by civil rights attorney Molly Munger to fund schools, or the millionaires tax measure authored by the California Federation of Teachers.
Brown would seem to have less leverage in convincing the independent Think Long Committee and its billionaire sponsors to hold back. However, if the committee decides to wait one election cycle before pursuing its restructuring plans, Brown’s proposal has a better chance with the voters.
Constitutional amendments have been known to qualify in one month’s time with enough money to pay petition circulators. Money is no object for Think Long proponents. So they have some time left to make a decision. But not much.
A bigger obstacle for moving ahead now is whether voters like the ideas offered by Think Long, and how easily those ideas can be explained to the average voter. That’s what the current polling is all about.