With just two weeks to go until election day, Governor Jerry Brown was out on the campaign trail pushing Proposition 30. He has a personal stake in this initiative and he was in Bakersfield Tuesday urging voters to raise taxes on themselves.
Ever since the Governor signed the state budget into law last June, he issued this warning: if voters in November don't pass Prop. 30, schools will suffer. On Tuesday, he delivered that same message.
"This is second grade arithmetic. It's billions into the schools or billions out of the schools," said Governor Brown.
He hopes to raise $6 billion to prevent education cuts.
"We're all Californians," said Arturo Rodriguez, President of the United Farm Workers of America. "We all need to pitch in."
"I ask that you vote today, tomorrow, by Tuesday's election to support Prop. 30 in order to save our schools," said Sandra Serrano, Chancellor for the Kern Community College District.
Prop. 30 would raise the state sales tax by .25 percent. It would also raise income taxes for those making more than $250,000 a year. Supporters said these taxes would prevent school cuts. Opponents said the money isn't guaranteed for schools.
"What you see is not what you get. We're going to send more money to Sacramento for legislators to spend on their pet projects," said Michael Turnipseed, Executive Director of the Kern County Taxpayers Association.
Governor Brown said he can't control what the legislature does, but he's promising more money to schools.
"I pledge to people, my job is to help our schools balance the budget and make California work," said Governor Brown.
Opponents say Governor Brown is threatening to cut education to force people to vote for a tax increase.
"There were other places that could be cut, but 'no' let's cut education because it will be easier to pass a tax increase," said Turnipseed.
Prop. 30 needs a majority vote to pass.
