In her first interview for "SoCal Connected," special contributor Madeleine Brand confronted Gov. Jerry Brown on Prop 30's lackluster performance in the latest polls.
That initiative, backed by Brown and up for a vote on Nov. 6, would tax the richest Californians to help fill the budget gap and prevent steep cuts to education.
But with just days to go before the election, Prop 30 is lagging. The latest polls show fewer than half of voters support Brown's measure.
Still, Brown expressed confidence that voters would approve it and called it a "pretty simple proposition."
"There's no middle way here. It's either a yes or a no. A Yes is billions of dollars into the schools and community colleges and the University of California. If it's No, it's money out," Brown said.
But critics say it's not so simple and that the initiative could have been written more clearly. One of the biggest criticisms among some circles is that it does not directly funnel any cash to education over the seven years the new taxes will remain in effect. Another initiative on the November ballot, Proposition 38, would also raise taxes, but it would earmark the money and spell out exactly how it should be spent on education. Brand asked Brown if he could guarantee that most of the Prop 30 money would go to schools.
"Well, why else am I doing it? Did I come back 27 years later just to play games? I mean, come on. I'm at a stage in my life where I want to do good things and fix our schools," Brown said.
Watch the full interview online and check out the links below to learn more about the tax measures you'll be voting on Nov. 6.
More on Props 30 and 38
- Cheat Sheet: Study Prop 30 and Prop 38 before you vote.
- Explainer: What Really Happens if Both Prop 30 and 38 Pass in November?
Photo Credit: Zach Behrens
