[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Peter Schrag

Like Howard Jarvis 30 years ago, the latter-day defenders of Proposition 13 talk almost entirely about the blessings that the cap on property taxes has bestowed on homeowners.

What they rarely mention – and with good reason – is the windfall that went to California corporations and the billions that has cost counties, cities and local schools.

The windfall was either an unintended consequence of the sloppily drafted homeowner rescue measure that Howard Jarvis and his sometime partner Paul Gann cooked up, or it was a slimy trick. Either way, it's long past time that the system by which California assesses large commercial property and the rate at which it's taxed are revised.

Currently, in the words of Lenny Goldberg of the liberal California Tax Reform Association, the system is "legally irrational." It's "more loophole than tax." It taxes competitors and landowners unfairly, promotes land speculation and sprawl and fails to tax the windfall in property values brought by public infrastructure investment and the increase in neighboring land values.

And because commercial property isn't taxed at its real value, the system doesn't encourage economically realistic use of land – it fails to encourage infill – and shifts a growing part of the tax burden to homeowners.

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

PPIC released a new poll today, with their typical plethora of data. What else can I say but "Oooooh, fun!" The news is good for Obama, but not so much for Schwarzenegger or Howard Jarvis' corpse. Arnold's proposal to privatize the lottery and his budget overall are getting terrible numbers.

But, before we get to Arnold, if McSame ever planned on doing anything other than picking up checks in California, which he is doing today, perhaps he will reconsider after these numbers:

If the general election were held today, likely voters would favor Obama over McCain by 17 points (54% to 37%); likely voters also favor Clinton over McCain by 12 points (51% to 39%).

The fact that Obama has a larger lead than Clinton largely speaks to the fact that Obama is perceived to be the nominee. However, it does blow out of the water the "big states" argument that Clinton was using a few weeks back.

On Props 98 and 99  (I do some work for No 98/Yes 99), both 98 and 99 are under the 50% mark that usually indicates a tough slog to passage at this point.  With less than two weeks to go, Prop 98 is looking badly at 30% Yes, 48% No.  Prop 99 still has its head above water at 44% Yes, 36% No. More on this and the budget over the flip.

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

I do some work for no on 98.

Tomorrow morning, on KGO AM 810's Ron Owens Show, Dean Preston of Tenants Together will be debating Jon Coupal of the Howard Jarvis Anti-Government League about Proposition 98. They are currently scheduled to be on the air from 10Am-11AM.  You can stream the show live here.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Robert Cruickshank

We have become so used to the rabid anti-tax politics of the right-wing, in thrall to the Club for Growth and the Howard Jarvis Association, that we might have forgotten that they have other ways to use the budget to destroy working Californians and the public services they depend on.

Such is the case with a recent op-ed from the California Foundation for Commerce and Education , which is, as Shane Goldmacher notes, the California Chamber of Commerce's think tank. The op-ed ever so gingerly floats the idea of raising taxes to close the budget deficit:

“Yet, as with the securities markets, common sense must prevail against principle if critical public services are at risk.

“It is simply implausible that we can solve in a single year a deficit problem unaddressed for years without devastating important education, public safety and safety net programs.”

But this comes at a price:

by Robert in Monterey [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Robert Cruickshank

Mimi Walters appears to be running one of the wingnuttiest campaigns in California history in her bid to get elected to the State Senate. Last week we told you of her proud affiliation with the Howard Jarvis Association at the expense of California schools. Now she is touting her anti-immigrant credentials, even at the cost of fiscal responsibility on the state budget.

Republicans who have made immigration a campaign centerpiece have fared pretty poorly at the ballot box. So while that might suggest silence while California Republicans prepare another immigration-focused campaign, my respect for common sense and human rights forces me to speak up.

Mimi has sent out two pieces of mail to her constituents in recent days playing up her anti-immigrant stance. In a glossy mailer she not only lists her support for various immigrant-bashing measures such as cutting off social services and forbidding something like the DREAM Act - but she also engages in an overtly racist attack on Latinos.