‘Millionaires Tax’ Backers Launch Campaign for Brown’s Tax Plan
On Tuesday, supporters of Gov. Jerry Brown's (D) compromise tax hike plan who previously backed the "Millionaires Tax" initiative announced that they would spend more than $1 million to campaign for the compromise plan, the Sacramento Bee's "Capitol Alert" reports.
They said that the campaign will target minorities and infrequent voters.
Supporters financing the campaign include the California Federation of Teachers and other activists (Siders, "Capitol Alert," Sacramento Bee, 8/7).
Details of the Compromise Tax Hike Plan
The compromise tax hike plan -- listed as Proposition 30 on the November ballot -- merges tax hike plans by Brown with the Millionaires Tax.
The initiative would:
- Increase the personal income tax by one percentage point for individuals who earn $250,000 annually or couples who earn $500,000 annually and by two percentage points for individuals who earn $300,000 annually or couples who earn $600,000 annually;
- Extend the income tax increases on wealthy residents from five to seven years; and
- Increase the sales tax by a quarter of a cent.
The sales tax hike would expire in four years.
The tax would raise an estimated $9 billion over the next fiscal year.
In June, Brown signed the fiscal year 2012-2013 budget agreement, which includes revenue from the compromise tax hike plan (California Healthline, 8/3).
Details of New Campaign
Anthony Thigpenn of the group California Calls said that the new campaign -- called Reclaim California's Future -- will:
- Conduct telephone calls;
- Visit residents at their homes; and
- Fund a "very robust get-out-the-vote effort at the end."
The campaign had $35,000 in cash on hand at the end of June  ("Capitol Alert," Sacramento Bee, 8/7).
Additional Support for Compromise Tax Hike Plan
According to "PolitiCal," Brown continues to raise money for the compromise tax hike plan.
This week, Zenith Insurance donated $100,000 in support of the initiative. In addition, actor and director Rob Reiner contributed $10,000 to the plan (York, "PolitiCal," Los Angeles Times, 8/7). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.