Annotated Bibliography

Myers, Dowell. "The Conversation." The Sacramento Bee. N.p., 15 July 2012. Web. 22 Sept. 2012. <http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/15/4630198/california-needs-to-examine-proposition.html>.

Dowell Myers is a professor of Public Policy at the University of Southern California and he writes this article published in the Sacramento Bee that is from a larger essay which was published in the summer of 2012 entitled "California Futures: New Narratives for a Changing Society”. This excerpt has a compelling argument that first states why Prop 13 was so attractive and potentially a good thing back in 1978.   With rapidly rising property taxes, at a time of a big surplus of funds in California that came because of California’s housing boom and huge population increase due to non-Californians migrating into the State, he argues that although it may have served the problems back then we now have different problems and the crash in our housing prices greatly affects the now outdated Prop 13.  Our elderly residents have enjoyed lower taxes with their expensive homes yet the younger folks among us are struggling to buy those expensive homes.  He reminds us that people with a college education earn significantly more than people without one, so therefore funding our schools may help our State in many different ways in the future.  This article helps to highlight what Prop 13 was all about and why it might have been necessary at a certain point in California’s progress but now we have to take a fresh look at the problems facing California and change the rules.    As a professor, of Public Policy at a prestigious California University he undoubtedly has a lot of credibility.


Barnes, Brooks. "Californians Face Rival Ballot Initiatives That Would Raise Taxes and Aid Schools." Nytimes.com. N.p., 10 Sept. 2012. Web. 16 Sept. 2012. <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/11/us/californians-face-competing-tax-increase-propositions.html?_r=1>.

The New York Times’ Brooks Barnes, article entitled “Californians Face Rival Ballot Initiatives That would Raise Taxes and Aid Schools.” Is a very interesting article comparing two Propositions that could both help and hurt each other?  Prop 30 is Governor Brown’s proposition that raises sales tax for 4 years and raises Income Tax for the wealthiest Californian’s for 7 years. While Prop 38 also written to help California Education is backed by a wealthy Civil Rights Attorney, who believes that more money will be made and these funds will go directly to education and only education.  This Proposition raises the Income Tax of every Californian for a period of 12 years.  What happens if both Propositions pass? Well California’s constitution takes care of that for us, the Proposition with the most positive votes will come into effect.  I believe this article is a good one to read because it gives us some comparisons of these two Propositions.  I think while investigating the merits of Prop 30 it is vital to include information about Prop 38 in order for Californians to make a completely informed decision.  It also answers a very important question, that I had even asked myself…..  What happens if both pass?  Some people may hesitate to vote yes on both for fear of having to pay twice.  On the other hand if half the State votes yes on one and no on the other, both may fail.  So this article helps us realize that a Yes on both Propositions only heightens the chance that at least one will pass and if both pass, only one takes effect. 




"As We See It: Gov. Brown in His Own Words." Santacruzsentinel.com. N.p., 12 Sept. 2012. Web. 22 Sept. 2012. <http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/opinion/ci_21522357/we-see-it-gov-brown-his-own-words?IADID=Search-www.santacruzsentinel.com-www.santacruzsentinel.com>.

This article from the Santa Cruz Sentinel entitled “Governor Brown in his own Words” is just that.  Governor Brown is defending the tough situation he has been in since becoming Governor of California for the second time.  He justifies all that he has been accomplishing considering what he inherited.  He is making a case to the people of California for voting positively on Proposition 30, which will help fund education.  He questions whether mistakes made in one area of the State i.e. State Parks and the $54 million that went unreported should penalize unrelated Prop 30. He reminds us that he is spending much less than his predecessor, he is capable of bi-partisanship and is looking at what makes sense for the future of California like the high speed rail system.  I think this article might be helpful for the Prop 30 Op Ed, because it gives Governor Brown’s very own reasons for doing certain things especially when his opponents are shouting out that they don’t trust the job he is doing or where the tax dollars are going.