Taxpayer Revolution 2.0: Vote 'No' Today on Proposition 1A

There’s a saying amongst politicos that “as California goes, so goes the nation.”  There’s reason to believe that they may have a point. 

In 1978, it looked as if the country was sliding leftward with such momentum that there would be little that could stop the tinkering and abuse of tax-and-spend liberals controlling the White House and Congress.  Then, California voters went to the polls and passed Proposition 13, an initiative that drastically limited the ability of state and local governments to raise property taxes.  All of a sudden, there was talk of a “taxpayer revolution.”  Other states passed similar initiatives.  And in 1980, Governor Ronald Reagan was elected President of the United States.

Today, Californians will head to the polls to vote down a number of ballot initiatives born of the state legislature’s controversial budget compromise, which resulted in a little budget-cutting and a lot of new taxation.  The legislature’s decision to punt to the people on whether tax increases should be continued for the next couple of years was pragmatic.  Democratic representatives hear calls for more spending from the people they talk to and don’t believe Californians won’t accept more taxation.  Republican representatives clearly are talking with different people because they hear about over-taxation, businesses fleeing the state, and a breaking point being reached.  Who is right about what Californians actually think? 

Both sides were equally confident they are correct, but we believe the result of the ballot-counting will be the conclusion that even in one of the bluest of states, taxpayers have had enough.  Wasteful spending must be cut first.  This may very well be the first victory in a new taxpayer revolution.  And, if the fervor of the homemade ‘No on 1A” signs at tea parties we attended in March and April in California are any indication, this revolution may be calling for the heads of elected officials to roll in the streets of both Sacramento and Washington D.C. as the 2010 elections approach.

We’ll post links to resources, coverage, and elections returns throughout the day, below:

Election Results and Live Reporting

Official California Secretary of State Website: Special Election Results – Returns are updated approximately every 10 minutes starting May 19th at 8:00 p.m.

Unofficial results of May 20, 8:47 a.m. PST with 100% precincts reporting:

County of Los Angeles Registrar: Live Election Results

Orange County: Unofficial Results – Updated frequently.

San Bernardino County Registrar: County Election Results – First Unofficial Summary Report of ballots will be released at approximately 8:30 p.m.

County of Ventura Recorder: Election Results.

Ventura County: Election Results.

“No on 1A” Websites and Resources

Official “No on Proposition 1A” Home Page

Vote No on 1A

California Tax Revolt 2009

Coverage of “No on Proposition 1A” Grassroots Rallies and Protests

Commentary

Posts/Stories Against Proposition 1A:

BizJourals Los Angeles: Poll Shows Californians Will Vote Against 1A

Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association: You Must Vote ‘No’ on Prop 1A

The Policy Report: California Republican Party Opposes Propositions 1A-1F

OC Register: Prop 1A Backers Make Case for ‘No’

Michelle Malkin: California – The Poster Child for Dysfunction

LA Times: Campaigning for Budget Measures Ends in a Whimper

Halfway to Concord: Prop 1A and the Washington Monument Syndrome

Common Sense Political Thought: The Implications of Proposition 1A

UCSB Daily Nexus: Prop 1A is Just More of the Same

Bumper Sticker:

Posts/Stories For Proposition 1A:

Ballot*Pedia: List of Supporters of May 19, 2009 California Propositions

Bakersfield Californian: Vote Yes to Ease Crisis, Chasten Politicians

San Francisco Chronicle: The Chronicle Recommends Prop 1A – ‘Yes’

Pete Rates: Proposition 1A: State Budget Stabilization – YES

UCSD The Guardian: Yes on Proposition 1A

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