Brown Reverses Position, Signaling Openness to Tobacco Tax Increases Without Voter Approval
This week, Gov. Jerry Brown (D) said upcoming special legislative sessions -- including one on Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program -- as part of the state budget deal could lead to tax increases on tobacco. This marks a change in position from his 2010 campaign in which he said he would not enact taxes without voter approval. California Senate Republican Leader Bob Huff (San Dimas) criticized Brown's new openness to taxes, noting that the state is "awash in money" and is "paying down debt."
- "Brown Now 'Open' to New Taxes Without Voter Approval" (Adler, "KXJZ News," Capital Public Radio, 6/19).