One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
Gov. Jerry Brown continues to push higher taxes, this time to LA Chamber of Commerce
Gov. Jerry Brown speaks during a speech at Los Angeles City Hall to discuss the state budget and a ballot measure to raise taxes.
(
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
)
Gov. Jerry Brown plans to take his case for higher taxes to the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce Thursday night.
Brown has proposed raising the sales tax by half a percentage point for four years while also increasing the personal income tax on people who make more than $250,000 annually for five years.
If voters don’t approve his plan, the governor says he’ll be forced to make deep cuts in public education funding.
A statewide poll released Thursday by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California shows 68 percent of likely voters support the plan, taking higher taxes over further cuts to education.
"There remains a strong belief that the state government could spend less and provide the same services, even as Californians notice local service reductions from state spending cuts and show early support for a tax increase,” said Mark Baldassare, PPIC president and CEO, summing up survey findings in a press release.
Meanwhile, many business groups continue to oppose any tax increase. Wednesday, the National Federation of Independent Business' California chapter said small business owners would be especially hard hit. Many of them file their taxes as individuals and make more than $250,000 a year, according to the business association.
Brown likely will tout his proposal to change the California Environmental Quality Act as a more business-friendly move.
Sponsored message
He says it will "simplify and expedite the approval process for job-creating projects" in the state. The L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce — the biggest business advocacy group in the region — is considering whether to take a position on Brown’s proposal.
The governor will address the group's annual dinner at the downtown Marriott on Thursday.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
