Obernolte Asks for Your ATTENTION

  TAXPAYER Update  

JULY 26, 2019____ 

The LA Times Editorial Board did a good job outlining a new legislative proposal that is trying to take away voter transparency. In a last minute gut and amend of Senate Bill #268, the proponents are clearly trying to ram this bill through the legislative process with very little public input. They claim that providing the rate and duration of a tax increase on the 75-word ballot label (as the Bill I authored several years ago requires) is confusing to voters.

However, there is absolutely no proof of that. In fact, the passage rate of bonds is currently over 80 percent, which clearly doesn't support their argument. All the data shows that when voters are confused, they are more likely to vote no. With that high of a passage rate, it seems clear that voters are willing to support bonds and the corresponding tax increase if they agree with how the money is spent. 

What’s even more telling is that I proposed an amendment that would simplify what the proponents would have to include in the ballot label. It would say, “this measure increases property taxes – see voter guide for information.”

That amendment was flatly rejected, shedding a light on the proponents’ main objective, which is to hide tax increases from voters.

I will continue to fight against this effort to eliminate voter transparency.

It is an honor to represent you.