California voters were dealt a blow on June 20, 2024, when the California Supreme Court removed a ballot measure from the November election. The initiative, known as the Taxpayer Protection Act or Proposition 15, aimed to make it harder for state and local governments to raise taxes by requiring voter approval for any tax increase passed by the state Legislature and a two-thirds majority vote for local tax increases (ABC30).
The ruling protected billions of dollars in revenue previously approved by voters, including funds for schools, reproductive health care, gun safety laws, and paid family leave (Calmatters). The California Supreme Court unanimously agreed that the measure was a revision of the state constitution and could not be proposed via an initiative. Instead, revising the constitution would require voters to approve the calling of a constitutional convention to consider the change (AP News).
The Taxpayer Protection Act had garnered over one million signatures from Californians who wanted to have a say in how their taxes were raised. However, opponents argued that it would upend the way government works and threaten critical funding for essential services (ABC30). The court agreed, stating that the measure would substantially alter the basic plan of government by taking away the Legislature's power to raise taxes (AP News).
Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat in his second term and potential presidential candidate, had opposed many tax increases but also supported temporary business taxes to balance the state budget. The removal of this measure from the ballot was seen as a win for him and his Democratic allies (ABC30).
The California Republican Party criticized Newsom for blocking voters' rights to engage in direct democracy, while supporters argued that it was necessary to protect essential services and prevent the government from overreaching its power (AP News).
