Close to Home: Prop. 53 is a no-brainer for taxpayers

According to Bloomberg News, California recently tied as the most innovative state in the country. This is no surprise given that the Golden State has always been a favorite destination for the world’s best and brightest to come and reap the benefits of life in California. And here in Napa and Sonoma counties, people come from all over the world to enjoy the fruits of our acclaimed wine industry.

While our geography, climate and intellectual capital reign supreme, the underpinnings of our state’s fiscal health are spiraling into an abyss of debt and fiscal uncertainty. With more than $330 billion in state debt, politicians’ reckless spending is robbing our children and grandchildren of the hope and opportunity that many dream California has to offer.

As founder and current director of the Napa County Taxpayers Association, I am committed to defending taxpayers while fighting for fiscal responsibility and accountability in our state government. There’s been little political will to take on the rigged system and make everlasting changes on how California conducts business, until now.

Proposition 53, commonly known as the Stop Blank Checks Initiative, would close a loophole in the California constitution that allows politicians and unelected state bureaucrats to go behind the backs of voters and finance state megaprojects with billions in state revenue bonds. Currently, there is no vote required by the state Legislature or the people to issue billions in state revenue bonds - not even a single legislative hearing is required. With this blatant lack of transparency, oversight and accountability, it is no wonder that California’s megaprojects are rarely completed on time and under budget (think high-speed rail debacle).

Proposition 53 would change that. A simple majority vote of the people would be required before California’s megaprojects use more than $2 billion in state revenue bonds. By requiring voter approval, Proposition 53 ensures full disclosure of the total cost of a project and a nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office report before voters cast their ballots and the project starts. Plus, as an added level of transparency, any measure put on the ballot requires a legislative hearing open to the public and broadcast online.

Unfortunately, a recent editorial in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat was misguided in its opposition to Proposition 53. While the Editorial Board agrees that “greater protection for taxpayers against uncontrolled cost overruns and exorbitant debt” is a good idea, it failed to recognize that the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and more than 20 local taxpayer groups like mine are supporting Proposition 53 this November because it will do just that.

Proposition 53 would put a necessary check on California’s out-of-control spending and finally give the people a voice on how their money is spent. Plus, the Legislature can put a revenue bond measure on the ballot at any time, so it will not slow down any projects.

California already has the same rules for general obligation bonds, and voters approve them all the time for schools, water, parks and other projects. It is time we shine the light of transparency on the revenue bond loophole.

In the current rigged system, it did not take long for money-hungry politicians, state bureaucrats and special interests to discover the revenue bond loophole in the constitution. They exploited the loophole and are using it to write endless blank checks to fund their pet projects, all while sidestepping the voters.

Before millions of Californians are forced to pay back multi-billion-dollar state revenue bonds through higher commute costs, water rates and other necessary and unavoidable fees, we should have a public discussion and public vote.

Please join me in voting for Proposition 53 this November.

Leon Brauning is the founder, current director and past president of the Napa County Taxpayers Association.