Brown's tax plan has 'tenuous' lead, poll finds

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 6/9/12 | Wyatt Buchanan, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau

[SmithL]

Gov. Jerry Brown's tax-raising ballot initiative has the support of a slight majority of registered voters, while a competing measure headed to the November ballot has little chance of passing, according to a Field Poll released Saturday. The poll found 52 percent of those surveyed said they would vote in favor of Brown's initiative, 35 percent were opposed and 13 percent were undecided. The measure would raise the income tax for seven years on individuals making $250,000 or more a year and the sales tax for four years.

The money would help fund education, along with a host of other state services. A public vote on tax increases has been the central focus for the governor since he took office last year. If it fails, Brown has proposed billions of dollars in spending cuts, mainly to education.

"He's got a lead. It's tenuous, but it's still a lead," said Mark DiCamillo, director of the Field Poll.

Complicating the governor's efforts, however, is a competing tax measure backed by wealthy civil rights attorney Molly Munger, who so far has put $8.3 million of her own money toward the effort. Brown has raised about $5.7 million from unions, corporations and Indian tribes, along with others.

[MasterGunner01]

The Moonbeam Plan: Raise fees and taxes. Increase regulations. Borrow more. Spend more. Give money to unions. Repeat.

Any questions, Californians?

[MasterGunner01]

Ah, that’s Governor Scott WALKER (R-WI) and not Brown.

[BfloGuy]

A poll of registered voters is useless.

Yes, it is. It's about as much use in predicting the results of an election as a poll of eighth-graders. Brown really can't think for a minute that this has a prayer of passing -- can he?

[SmithL]

Scott Walker didn't sell his soul to the public service unions to win his governorship. California's Governor and Legislature are owned, lock, stock, and barrel, by the same unions who must be reigned in, in order for California to survive. What Scott Walker accomplished will never happen in California, at least, not until after the State defaults on its obligations.