California Proposition 55 (2016)

Last updated
Proposition 55
Tax Extension for Education and Healthcare
Results
Votes%
Yes check.svgYes8,594,27363.27%
X mark.svgNo4,988,32936.73%
Valid votes13,582,60292.96%
Invalid or blank votes1,027,9077.04%
Total votes14,610,509100.00%
Registered voters/turnout19,411,77175.27%
Source: California Secretary of State [1]

Proposition 55 is a California ballot proposition that passed on the November 8, 2016 ballot, regarding extending by twelve years the temporary personal income tax increases enacted in 2012 on earnings over $250,000, with revenues allocated to K–12 schools, California Community Colleges, and, in certain years, healthcare. [2] Proposition 55 will raise tax revenue by between $4 billion and $9 billion a year. [3] Half of funds will go to schools and community colleges, up to $2 billion a year would go to Medi-Cal, and up to $1.5 billion will be saved and applied to debt. [3]

California ballot proposition statewide referendum item in California

In California, a ballot proposition can be a referendum or an initiative measure that is submitted to the electorate for a direct decision or direct vote. If passed, it can alter one or more of the articles of the Constitution of California, one or more of the 29 California Codes, or another law in the California Statutes by clarifying current or adding statute(s) or removing current statute(s).

An income tax is a tax imposed on individuals or entities (taxpayers) that varies with respective income or profits. Income tax generally is computed as the product of a tax rate times taxable income. Taxation rates may vary by type or characteristics of the taxpayer.

California Community Colleges System

The California Community Colleges is "a postsecondary education system" in the U.S. state of California. The system includes the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges and 72 community college districts. The districts have established 114 community colleges. The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the United States, serving more than 2.1 million students. The California Community Colleges is often referred to as the "California Community Colleges System" (CCCS).

Contents

History

California voters passed temporary sales and income tax increases with Proposition 30 in 2012. [4] During the temporary tax, California’s top 1% of earners paid half of the state’s income-taxes and contributed one third of its budget. [4] Since the 2012 tax increase, California’s tax revenues have grown by nearly 30%, with roughly two thirds of the money going to schools. [4]

Proposition 55 allowed the sales tax increase to expire as planned, while maintaining the increased income tax rates and extended them through 2030. [4] Governor Jerry Brown, who was the primary proponent of the tax increase in 2012, remained neutral on Proposition 55. [5]

Jerry Brown 34th and 39th Governor of California

Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown Jr. is an American politician who served as the 34th and 39th Governor of California from 1975 to 1983 and from 2011 to 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, Brown served as California Attorney General from 2007 to 2011. He was both the oldest and sixth-youngest Governor of California as a consequence of the 28-year gap between his second and third terms.

Campaigning

Proponents spent $58.6 million fighting for the measure, with the top donor being $25 million from a hospital trade association. [3] An additional $20 million was donated by the California Teachers Association, with other top donors including the Service Employees International Union, and the California School Employees Association. [3] The measure was supported by the editorial boards of The Sacramento Bee [6] and The Mercury News . [7]

The California Teachers Association (CTA), initially established in 1863, is one of the largest and most powerful teachers' unions in California politics. It is based in Burlingame, and its current president is Eric C. Heins.

Service Employees International Union North American trade union

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is a labor union representing almost 1.9 million workers in over 100 occupations in the United States and Canada. SEIU is focused on organizing workers in three sectors: health care, including hospital, home care and nursing home workers; public services ; and property services.

California School Employees Association


The California School Employees Association, AFL-CIO (CSEA) is the largest classified school employees labor union in the United States. CSEA represents more than 230,000 public employees in California.

Opponents spent $3,000 fighting against the measure. [3] The California Chamber of Commerce, who were neutral on the 2012 tax increase, opposed Proposition 55. [5] The measure was opposed by the editorial boards of the Los Angeles Times , [8] the San Francisco Chronicle , [9] and The Wall Street Journal . [4]

The California Chamber of Commerce (CalChamber) is the largest broad-based business advocacy group in California. Membership represents one-quarter of the private sector jobs in California and includes firms of all sizes and companies from every industry within the state. The CalChamber provides products and services to help businesses and human resources (HR) professionals comply with both federal and state employment law. As a not-for-profit organization with roots dating to 1890, the CalChamber promotes international trade and investment to stimulate California's economy and create jobs.

<i>Los Angeles Times</i> Daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California

The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper which has been published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It has the fourth-largest circulation among United States newspapers, and is the largest U.S. newspaper not headquartered on the East Coast. The paper is known for its coverage of issues particularly salient to the U.S. West Coast, such as immigration trends and natural disasters. It has won more than 40 Pulitzer Prizes for its coverage of these and other issues. As of June 18, 2018, ownership of the paper is controlled by Patrick Soon-Shiong, and the executive editor is Norman Pearlstine.

<i>San Francisco Chronicle</i> newspaper serving the San Francisco Bay area

The San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. It was founded in 1865 as The Daily Dramatic Chronicle by teenage brothers Charles de Young and Michael H. de Young. The paper is currently owned by the Hearst Corporation, which bought it from the de Young family in 2000. It is the only major daily paper covering the city and county of San Francisco.

Results

A September 2016 poll by the Public Policy Institute of California showed that 54% of likely voters supported Proposition 55, 38% opposed it, and 8% did not know how they would vote. [10]

The Public Policy Institute of California is an independent, nonpartisan, non-profit research institution. Based in San Francisco, California, the institute was established in 1994 with a $70 million endowment from William Redington Hewlett of Hewlett-Packard.

Proposition 55 was approved by voters in the November general election, with 63% voting yes. [11]

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References

  1. ↑ "Statement of Vote - November 8, 2016, General Election". December 16, 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Proposition 55. California General Election November 8, 2016. Official Voter Information Guide. California Secretary of State". Legislative Analyst's Office. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Lagos, Marisa. "Election 2016: Proposition 55". KQED News. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 The Editorial Board of the Wall Street Journal (26 October 2016). "The State Taxathon". The Wall Street Journal . Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  5. 1 2 Adler, Ben (25 October 2016). "Proposition 55 May Be Good Politics, But Is It Good Policy?". Capital Public Radio . Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  6. ↑ The Editorial Board of the Sacramento Bee (24 September 2016). "'Yes' on Proposition 55 tax, unenthusiastically". The Sacramento Bee . Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  7. ↑ "Proposition 55 needed to renew tax on richest Californians". The Mercury News. September 8, 2016.
  8. ↑ The Editorial Board of the Los Angeles Times (1 October 2016). "Don't tie California's fate to Wall Street volatility. Vote no on Proposition 55". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  9. ↑ The Editorial Board of the San Francisco Chronicle (9 September 2016). "Chronicle recommends: No on state Prop. 55". San Francisco Chronicle . Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  10. ↑ Baldassare, Mark (September 2016). "Californians & Their Government: Statewide Survey" (PDF). Public Policy Institute of California. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  11. ↑ Pritchard, Justin (9 November 2016). "Tax the rich for education? California votes 'yes'". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 11 November 2016.


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