Senate Majority Leader Darrell Steinberg attacks Prop. 13: June 2, 2009

As we promised yesterday, here is the video of Darrell Steinberg attacking Proposition 13.  We're the highest taxed state in the nation overall and our property taxes are not low, they are just about average.  Instead of blaming Prop. 13, which passed 31 years ago, perhaps politicians should take responsibility for their near-criminal mismanagement of our state.  The relevant part of this occurs at 3:45 minutes into this press conference if you want to fast forward to it.  In case you're curious as to what he's really saying, see the translation below.

DS:  We need to be surgical about the way we go about cutting.  And cut we will!

Translation:  Just not things like the Integrated Waste Management Board or the other wasteful spending.

DS:  But, there is also a tremendous opportunity to restructure the way we govern.

Translation:  Yippee!  Now, I get to talk about raising taxes!

DS:  It is no secret that 31 years after the passage of Proposition 13 that our levels of government are so tangled up with one another that the public is rightfully frustrated because they don’t know who raises the money and who has the responsibility of providing the services.

Translation:  The budget mess isn’t our fault.  Let’s blame it on a 31 year old proposition instead.

DS:  And this is a unique opportunity to take some of what the state currently does and shift it to local government and maybe school districts and give them more ability to deal with the revenue side of their equation.

Translation:  We’re going to keep taking your money, but we’re going to pawn off some of our work on local governments.  Then we’ll let them raise your taxes.