No on Proposition 29
Stop the $735 Million Tax Hike!

A career politician is pushing Proposition 29, a new $735 million annual tax and spending mandate.  Prop. 29, the so-called California Cancer Research Act, is a flawed and poorly drafted measure that would create a new unaccountable state bureaucracy filled with political appointees.  The measure will be voted on at the June 2012 election.

We all believe cancer research is important, but California can’t afford to start a new billion-dollar spending program when we have a $10+ billion budget deficit and can’t pay for critically-needed existing programs like education and health care. 

Here’s why a growing coalition of California taxpayers, law enforcement, labor and small businesses have come together to oppose this poorly drafted, flawed measure:

  • Billions in New Taxes, but Nothing to Fix the State Budget: Raises taxes by $735 million annually without allocating any money to pay down our $10+ billion budget deficit or fund existing critical programs like education or public safety.
  • Allows California’s Tax Dollars to be Spent in Other States and Countries: Does not require any of the new tax revenue to be spent on research in California, or even the United States.  Tax money raised from Californians should be spent in California to create jobs.
  • More Wasteful Spending: Allows a new, unaccountable board to spend up to $110 million every year buying buildings and real estate for huge for-profit companies.  Nothing requires those buildings to be built in California – they could be out of the state or even out of the country.
  • Permits Conflicts of Interest: Allows organizations represented by Commissioners to receive taxpayer funding from the new Commission.
  • Circumvents Voter-Approved Protections for School Funding: Voters approved a constitutional amendment requiring 40% of new tax revenue go to schools, but the career politician behind this measure is using a loophole to get around this requirement.

Now is not the time for a huge new spending program. Join our coalition today.

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Be Heard

We all support cancer research, but Prop. 29 is fundamentally flawed because it fails to protect our hard-earned dollars or guarantee that any taxpayer dollars are spent in California to create jobs. Joel Fox President of the Small Business Action Committee
When you look at the fine print, it's clear Prop. 29 lacks accountability, oversight and strict controls to ensure our money is spent wisely. This measure directs money away from our schools. Tom Bogetich Former Executive Director, California Board of Education
Prop. 29 expressly prohibits any amendments by the Legislature for 15 years, even in the extreme cases of fraud, abuse or mismanagement. Mike Genest Former Director, California Department of Finance
More cancer research sounds like a good idea, but this $735 million tax sets up a whole new state bureaucracy and spending program at a time when we can’t even balance our budget. Teresa Casazza President, California Taxpayers Association