Education tax plan in setback - Financial supporter of Prop 88 apparently ends active role.

Sacramento Bee ^ | 9/14/6 | Judy Lin

[SmithL]

The principal financial backer of a statewide parcel tax initiative has apparently stopped funding the drive, leaving supporters without the kind of cash, staff and ads typically needed for a full-fledged campaign.

Political consultant Rick Claussen said he has advised Netflix CEO Reed Hastings to "let go" of Proposition 88, which would establish a $50 parcel tax on all property for public school funding.

"Because of the anti-tax sentiments right now, we took a look at the measure and felt it was better to let go of this one and regroup and decide where we might go in the future," Claussen said.

"It's probably better to live to fight another day."

West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon, who is president and CEO of EdVoice, an educational nonprofit group leading the initiative, said "there's been no determination to pull out."

The initiative remains on the Nov. 7 ballot.

Hastings, a wealthy Democrat who has a history of funding education initiatives, had spent $4.9 million getting Proposition 88 qualified on the November ballot, making him the campaign's single biggest contributor.

[SmithL]

Prop 88 - The Netflix tax

[theBuckwheat]

Only $50? Like the minimum wage, why not ten times that number. People who own property are rich. After all, if they have property, they must have money. It is just as much trouble to get the voters to approve a $500 parcel tax as it is for a $50 tax. Besides, if the $50 tax were to pass, it would soon not be enough and we will just have to go back to the voters and demand more.

[Howard Jarvis Admirer]

Rich multimillionaire liberals again seeking to raise taxes on California homeowners instead of themselves.

Solution, save $$$ by dropping Netflix and checkout the videos available at your local library. My library in San Diego has a wide selection and can order videos that are not in the local branch. Why subsidize tax and spend limousine liberals like Hastings?

[goldstategop]

Its a regressive tax. And a statewide property tax that would authorize facilities money to go to just 5% of your kids' schools! Its a TAX INCREASE and its DOA. Reed Hastings and John Doerr have chosen the worst means of furthering public education in California with a poorly written measure that has virtually everyone against it. Vote NO on Proposition 88!

(No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo! )

[goldstategop]

Its a parcel tax and its not linked to ability to pay. A millionaire in a mansion and a retire on a fixed income living in a bungalow would pay the same flat $50. Supporters have promised if its passed to increase the $50 per parcel tax every four years. This is a tax that would remain on the books forever regardless of whether or not it does anything to help the schools. And it would open the door to additional parcel taxes to further other special interests' causes leading to people being taxed again out of the homes and businesses. Proposition 88 would represent the first step in dismantling Proposition 13's taxpayer protections in California. That's why it must be shot down by a large margin to keep it from ever being resurrected again.

(No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo! )