Author: Lenny Goldberg

I was working as a staffer in the Legislature when Proposition 13 passed 40 years ago. It brought about a seismic shift in governance in

Dear Joel,

Thank you for calling me out  for my mention of "Taxpayer Right to
Vote"  at our encounter  at the Deliberative Poll/PBS event last month.  When I described it, I noticed that you were
at a loss for words at the common sense of allowing a majority of the
legislature to take a tax vote to a majority of the people.  Joel, from our hundred-plus joint appearances
and debates, I know how quick of mind you are, so I took your silence as
recognition of the natural good sense of the idea.

Think of it:  the majority
party of the legislature would be forced to develop a relationship with the
voters about issues of taxing and spending.  
The voters are not ideologically opposed to taxes-they vote for them
regularly–but they sure as hell don’t want their taxes going to waste.    Only if the state is taking care of its
budgetary business can the legislature justify going to the people for their
assent in taxation.  That’s what Jerry Brown
and the legislature did in their March austerity budget, prior to the tax vote
which never happened.