Steinberg Says Tax Plans Rivaling Brown’s Should Drop From Ballot Race

On Thursday, Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) called for two tax plans that could compete with Gov. Jerry Brown's (D) proposal on the November ballot to drop out of contention, the Los Angeles Times' "PolitiCal" reports.

Steinberg said that of the three rival plans, Brown's tax hike proposal has the best chance of passage.

He said, "It's time to get behind the governor's tax initiative," adding, "If you have two or three of them on the ballot at one time, they're all at risk of losing" (Sanders, "Capitol Alert," Sacramento Bee, 2/16).

Brown's Plan

Brown's plan -- which recently was endorsed by the California Medical Association -- would raise income taxes on Californians earning at least $250,000 annually and increase the sales tax by a half cent. The tax increase would expire at the end of 2016.

The plan is a key component of Brown's $92.6 billion spending proposal for fiscal year 2012-2013.

Details of Rival Plans

Supporters of the "Millionaires Tax" -- backed by the California Nurses Association -- began collecting signatures last week to support their plan to increase taxes on state residents earning more than $1 million annually. Some of the revenue would go toward state health services.

Another plan -- called "Our Children, Our Future" -- by civil rights attorney Molly Munger aims to increase income taxes for all residents, with the highest income earners seeing the largest hike. Most of the revenue would support education programs (California Healthline, 2/7).

Broadcast Coverage

On Thursday, Capital Public Radio's "KXJZ News" reported on Steinberg's call for support of Brown's tax initiative (O'Mara, "KXJZ News," Capital Public Radio, 2/16).