California Proposition 56 (2004)
From Ballotpedia
Proposition 56 appeared on the California primary ballot on March 2, 2004. It failed to pass with 2,185,868 (34.3%) votes in favor and 4,183,188 (65.7%) against. It was intended to penalize politicians for every day that the state budget is overdue. The proposition would also have lowered the threshold required pass a budget and enact new budget-related taxes to 55% from the 2/3 vote currently required. The 2/3 supermajority was created with the passage of California Proposition 13 in 1978. Prop. 56 was officially known as the Budget Accountability Act.
Donations to pass the measure exceeded $15.8 million, while donations to defeat the measure were in the range of $9.4 million.
The primary financial supporters of Prop. 56 were SEIU/the California State Council of Service Employees at $9 million, and the California Teachers Association at $2.2 million. The California Republican Party gave $750,000 to defeat it.
Official summary
- Permits Legislature to enact budget and budget-related tax and appropriation bills with 55% vote rather than 2/3 vote currently required.
- Requires that Legislature, Governor permanently lose salary, expenses for each day budget is late.
- Requires that Legislature stay in session until budget is passed.
- Requires budget summary in state ballot pamphlet and link to Internet website with legislators' voting records on budget and related taxes.
- Requires 25% of certain state revenue increases be deposited in reserve fund, which cannot be used to increase spending.
Summary of Legislative Analyst's Estimate of Net State and Local Government Fiscal Impact:
- This measure would have varying state fiscal impacts from lowering the legislative vote requirement for budget-related spending and tax increases - including changes in spending and potentially significant increases in state tax revenues in some years. Fiscal impacts would depend primarily on the composition and actions of future Legislatures.