Anti-Tax Initiative Qualifies on California Ballot

California taxpayers will be voting on a new anti-tax initiative in November that would make it illegal for lawmakers to approve taxes disguised as fees without a proper vote. According to Mercury News, both the California Taxpayers Association and the California Chamber of Commerce are supporting the initiative.

California's secretary of state certified the initiative Thursday, the ninth to go before voters in November.

The proposition would stop state lawmakers from approving taxes disguised as fees without the constitutionally required two-thirds vote for a tax increase. Passing a fee right now only requires a majority vote of the Legislature.

Supporters say lawmakers try to skirt the high vote threshold required to approve taxes by labeling charges as fees on everyday items such as food and fuel.

The initiative also would require local officials to bring similar fee increases to voters.

Ballot Issues Test Anti-Tax Mood

From USAToday.com:

The nation's fervor against taxing and spending will be tested beginning Tuesday in a series of state and local ballot measures seeking major tax hikes to preserve government services.

The ballot issues are making for odd alliances and potential election surprises. Some places friendly to the anti-tax "Tea Party" movement appear ready to raise taxes while opposition to public employee labor contracts is gaining strength in traditional union strongholds.

On May 18, Arizona will decide the biggest and most important measure: a 1-cent sales tax hike for three years that will lift the state's rate to 6.6% and the rate for Phoenix to 9.3%, one of the nation's highest.

The tax increase has no significant organized opposition and is leading in polls. The pro-tax sentiment comes in a state known for conservative politics, including a tough new crackdown on illegal immigration.

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Oregon Anti-Tax Leader Indicted On Tax Charges

From the Associated Press:

Bill Sizemore, Oregon's high-profile anti-tax activist and Republican candidate for governor, has been indicted on tax evasion charges that could send him to prison if convicted.

The Oregon Department of Justice said Monday that Sizemore and his wife, Cindy Sizemore, are each charged with three counts of evading Oregon personal income taxes. Each count carries a maximum punishment of five years and a $125,000 fine.

The indictment alleges the couple failed to file returns for the tax years 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Bill Sizemore called the charges a "political attack" by public employee unions and state Attorney General John Kroger, a Democrat who had union support.

Those unions and Sizemore have been in a long-running legal battle. On Monday, the Oregon Education Association — the state's largest teachers union — said Sizemore "continues to act as though he is above the law.

"It's not that he's being politically targeted; he keeps breaking the law," said OEA spokeswoman Becca Uherbelau.

In 2002, a Multnomah County jury found that Sizemore's former political action committee had engaged in a "pattern of racketeering" by filing false financial reports and using forged signatures to qualify anti-union and anti-tax measures for the ballot.

Soft Drink Makers Launch Anti-Tax Ads

From UPI.com:

U.S. soft drink makers say they have launched a $2 million advertising campaign to counter moves to fight obesity and fund health care by taxing sugary soda.

The American Beverage Association has joined forces with the National Restaurant Association and the Grocery Manufacturers Association to fight the consideration of any such taxes, building a coalition of groups called Americans Against Food Taxes, USA Today reported Monday.

The newspaper says the ads depict soft drinks as "simple pleasures" being subjected to grasping government bureaucrats.

"People view it as an overreach of government when the tax code is used to tell them what to eat and drink," Kevin Keane of the beverage association told USA Today, adding that such taxes would hurt low- and middle-income people most.