Gov. Brown Defends Tax Hike Initiative Campaign
BURBANK (CBSLA.com) — Gov. Jerry Brown denied Friday that Proposition 30, a tax hike proposal, lost support from voters because of recent attacks from the opposition.
Under Brown's Nov. ballot measure, sales tax for Californians would increase by a quarter-cent for four years and the income tax would rise for those who earn more than $250,000.
Some of the revenue from the tax hike would then go to schools under Proposition 98.
However, backers of Proposition 38, a similar tax measure, have claimed money raised under Prop 30 wouldn't go to the school system.
In a one-on-one interview with KCAL9's Dave Bryan, Brown responded to the allegations.
"I've looked at it real carefully. Proposition 30 does help the schools. The people are coming around. And I think we have a very good chance to win," said Brown.
He also told Bryan, "There are four separate polls that show the margin is 10 to 12 percent and the 'No' vote has not gotten over 40 percent. As the governor of California, I have a lot of reports come in to me, and I think we have a very good chance."
State Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield, a staunch supporter of Brown and Prop 30, said the race is a lot closer than the governor is letting on.
"The polling right now is within the margin of error, so it's extremely close," he said.
Three polls during the past month showed between 50 and 55 percent of voters support Prop 30, but one poll showed the lead shrunk to within the margin of error.
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