Molly Munger's Proposition 38, the tax measure rivaling Gov. Jerry Brown's, remains on the ballot despite a full-on appeal by Brown to withdraw it.
Brown, fearful that too many tax initiatives on one ballot could overwhelm voters and sink them all, persuaded the California Federation of Teachers to merge its initiative with his. But Munger refused.
The wealthy civil rights lawyer and daughter of billionaire Charles Munger said from the beginning that she would take her measure all the way to the ballot, and she has contributed more than $30 million of her own money to the campaign. The initiative, which is supported by the California State PTA, would raise income taxes on all but California's lowest earners.
Like Brown, Munger is a Democrat. The Pasadena resident says she kept her initiative on the ballot because it is superior to his.
WHAT IT DOES
Raises income taxes on most Californians for 12 years.
Allocates increased revenue to public schools, child care and preschool programs, and state debt payments.
According to the Legislative Analyst's Office, schools would receive about $6 billion annually, or $1,000 per student, from the measure.
WHAT IT COSTS
According to the Legislative Analyst's Office, the measure would increase income taxes on all but the lowest income bracket for 12 years, raising roughly $10 billion annually in initial years and likely growing over time.
Allocates roughly 60 percent of revenue to schools, 30 percent to state debt payments and 10 percent to early child care and education programs, with the share for schools increasing to roughly 85 percent in later years.
SUPPORTERS
Molly Munger, civil rights attorney
California State PTA
Education Trust-West, education think tank
WHAT SUPPORTERS SAY
The revenue is needed because the state has cut billions of dollars from school budgets in recent years.
Improving education is necessary to create the skilled workforce for California's economy and job creation.
Proposition 38 prohibits spending money raised by the initiative on school salary increases and restricts how much can be spent on administration.
MONEY WATCH
The pro-initiative campaign has raised about $33 million, nearly all of it from Munger.
ON THE WEB
Yes on 38: prop38forlocalschools.org
OPPONENTS
California Democratic Party
California Republican Party
California Chamber of Commerce
WHAT OPPONENTS SAY
The initiative increases income tax rates on middle-class families that will burden them for years.
Raising taxes hurts the business climate in California, damaging small businesses and worsening the outlook for jobs.
Democrats say the initiative would not avert about $5.4 billion in cuts to schools and community colleges should a rival measure, Proposition 30, fail.
MONEY WATCH
Opposition groups have raised less than $40,000.
ON THE WEB
No on 38: stopthemiddleclasstaxhike.com
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