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No on Prop. 90 - Taxpayer Trap Initiative

Costly Measure Threatens to Halt Progressive Change

[Download PDF of this Fact Sheet]

Prop. 90 is a deceptive initiative masquerading as an eminent domain measure that threatens to block virtually the entire progressive agenda.

At its core, Prop. 90 seeks to silence the voice of representative democracy by fundamentally changing the way our government works. It’s a “Taxpayer Trap” that forces taxpayers to pay for basic protections such as those that protect our environment, communities, consumers, children, minorities, seniors low-income families, the disabled community and women. The notion of “By the People, For the People” will be replaced with “Paid for By the People.”

Under the “Taxpayer Trap Initiative,” virtually any action taken by voters or state or local governments that property owners claim causes a substantial property loss would result in financial liability for taxpayers – even actions to protect privacy, prevent fraud, or protect the environment. If unable to pay these costs, state or local agencies would be unable to enforce these protections and unable to consider future protections.

Pay to protect. It’s that simple.

Here are just a few of the reasons why it’s critical we defeat Prop. 90:

• Almost any environmental protection measure not related to health and safety would trigger compensation requirements, including but not limited to:
  • Growth management measures; CEQA mitigation; protection of natural treasures such as threatened and endangered species, ecosystems, old-growth forests, wetlands, coastal areas; and restrictions to protect water supply/quality to name a few.
• Worker discrimination protections would be at risk because businesses could claim they resulted in an economic loss and therefore required compensation.
• Living wage ordinances could no longer be adopted by local governments.
• Consumer protections measures such as privacy protection, restrictions on disclosure of financial information, prohibitions on new types of consumer fraud would all be jeopardized by the Taxpayer Trap.
• Community preservation measures such as historic preservation ordinances and design guidelines, restrictions on adult businesses, and noise ordinances that restrict the operation of a business all would require taxpayers to compensate the property owners.
• Housing for seniors and low-income individuals would be jeopardized because condominium conversion, mobile home park protections, affordable housing requirements and rent control ordinances would be subject to new payouts from taxpayers.

The initiative is funded by well-organized, out-of-state extremists and is part of a national anti-government, anti-progressive agenda. Similar measures in several states, including Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Washington, Colorado, Arizona and Alaska are also being funded by the same self-serving multi-millionaires.

If this measure passes in California, “Taxpayer Trap” measures will likely sweep the country, threatening the progressive agenda and everyone who relies upon its success.

The good news is a similar countywide measure was defeated in Napa this year. But the bad news is that a regulatory “Takings” ballot measure with similar provisions was passed in Oregon in 2004 and has already resulted in over two thousand lawsuits and enormous negative consequences for the state. We believe the lessons learned from these campaigns will help inform our efforts but the public needs to be educated immediately.

Read more:

Background and History | Environmental Impact | Impact on Progressive Change | Effects on Business and Taxpayers | Impact on Public Safety | Quotations | Coalition List

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