Why I urge a “no” vote on Propositions 30 and 38

Are you tired of the failure on the part of our representatives in Sacramento to create a real balanced budget without the usual “smoke and mirror” approach, or using overly optimistic revenue projections that are never reached (or even end up close)?

Are you tired of the “I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today” approach? Are you sick of hearing Governor Jerry Brown threatening to cut education if Proposition 30 is not passed?

These “tricks” of the Governor and legislature are old. Sacramento politicians need to balance a budget without gimmicks.

Allowing a tax increase without any promise of reform is plain stupidity. Voting for 30 and 38 allows politicians to continue as usual, without solving the budget problem. In fact, think about what will happen when these temporary tax increases expire and our representatives in Sacramento once again will have failed to learn the lesson of fiscal responsibility.

Cuts to education, as threatened by the Governor, show how desperate Sacramento politicians really are. They are unwilling to show the fiscal restraint needed to create a real balanced budget.

Voting “No” is a sign to the Governor and legislature that you want them to actually balance the budget with available funding.

Think about these Propositions. If they are passed, will the Governor and legislature once again be given a means to increase funding to other programs, instead of actually dealing with the deficit? Have our elected leaders in Sacramento done anything recently to make sure California is in good fiscal shape instead of constantly being at the brink of bankruptcy?

If our politicians really want a tax increase, then why not a proposition that imposes budget restrictions (sounds a bit like Proposition 31, also on the ballot). It doesn’t make sense to impose a temporary tax increase when there is nothing in the measure forcing lawmakers to learn from their past mistakes. Legislative reforms are needed to guide politicians to properly balance a budget and to control the rate of growth.

I don’t see a “No” vote on either of these measures as being against education or the public safety sector, but rather a vote for telling the Governor and legislature to LEARN how to balance the budget with existing funds — and, as well, that we don’t appreciate their threats.

Ignore Governor Brown’s threat and do what is best for the state and our children’s future. Vote no on 30 and 38 and demand the legislature show fiscal leadership and pass a real balanced budget.