Republicans Will Stand Firm In Defending Taxpayers And Proposition 13

With California facing a severe budget crisis, liberals in Sacramento have been working overtime trying to find ways to pick the pockets of hard-working taxpayers to find more money to pay for their irresponsible spending habits.

One liberal pundit has gone so far as to suggest that lawmakers repeal Proposition 13, arguing that we can no longer afford this vital taxpayer protection given our state’s $14.5 billion budget deficit. I couldn’t disagree more strongly.

What California cannot afford is more reckless spending in Sacramento. Our state is facing severe budget problems today not because we don’t bring in enough tax revenue every year, but because the politicians have overspent for years, ignoring our growing fiscal problems while running up a massive deficit.

The money you send to Sacramento each year in taxes is more than enough to fully fund our needs. Over the last four years, revenue went up 40 percent, at the same time we experienced a slowing economy and a downturn in the housing market. But lawmakers spent all that money and then some, increasing spending by a reckless 44 percent.

The Democrat-controlled Legislature’s mismanagement of state resources should not be used as an excuse by the big spenders in Sacramento to justify billions in higher taxes by repealing Proposition 13.

Before Proposition 13, there was no limit on how much government could impose in property taxes. With property values increasing significantly during the 1960s and 1970s, many saw their property tax bills go up by double-digits every year with the rising value of their homes. It was not uncommon to see many Caifornians, particularly those on fixed incomes, sell their homes because they could not afford to pay their property tax bill.

Proposition 13 was passed to help working families and seniors afford their tax bill and remain in their homes by restraining how much government could charge in property taxes. Sacramento can now charge just one percent of the assessed value of your house at the time you bought it, with annual increases limited to no more than 2 percent.

All homeowners benefit from Proposition 13. According to the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, the average homeowner who purchased his home in 2006 saved $9,000 in property taxes that year, while those who bought 30 years ago have saved $143,000 over the years – directly as a result of Proposition 13.

Local governments also benefit from Proposition 13. When you sell your house, the value of your former home is then reassessed to the new higher sales price, and taxes are levied based on that new higher figure. This means more tax revenue to pay for important services like police and fire. Here in Southern California, the assessed value of homes in Los Angeles County increased 9.3 percent last year, bringing in more tax dollars to cities and counties despite the housing slowdown.

Let’s be clear, this is not merely a “tax loophole” as the tax and spend Democrats
Are now spinning the discussion. Repealing Proposition 13 will mean tens of thousands of dollars in higher property taxes for every California homeowner and will cause many to teeter on the edge of losing their homes because they won’t be able to afford rising property taxes. It would hurt first-time homebuyers especially hard, as many are living paycheck to paycheck trying to afford their mortgage bills.

If you think today’s subprime mortgage foreclosure crisis is serious, imagine how many Californians will be on the brink of having their homes seized for failure to pay their property taxes if liberals have their way.

Republicans know the answer to our budget problems is not raising taxes, but cutting wasteful spending and taking responsible steps to live within our means. Making it easier to raise taxes won’t reduce the deficit, but will only encourage more unrestrained spending in Sacramento.

Rest assured, my Republican colleagues and I will fight hard to protect your wallets from irresponsible tax increases, and reject each and every attempt by Democrats to hurt Californians with higher taxes.