ARGUMENT AGAINST PROPOSITION 21

State parks are some of California's true jewels, but Proposition 21 is a cynical ploy by Sacramento insiders to bring back the “Car Tax” to the tune of $1 billion every two years—according to the venerable watchdog, the Legislative Analyst's Office.

Say NO to the “Car Tax” and vote NO on Proposition 21.

Instead of reducing the size of government to fit these difficult times, this new car tax will allow politicians to play a cynical budget shell game that could still leave our state parks dilapidated while diverting hundreds of millions of dollars into other government programs.

Veteran Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Walters recently exposed the politicians' car tax scheme by reporting that a state senator had argued for eliminating $140 million from the state parks' budget so that you, the voter, would be more likely to vote for Proposition 21.

Walters quotes Senator Alan Lowenthal telling a legislative committee:

“Why would anyone vote for the park pass (Prop. 21) if we've already fully funded it (state parks)? I mean why do you need to vote for a park pass if we're fully funded?”

Walters rightly concluded that Lowenthal's comments “let the cat out of the bag.”

This stunning insight into what goes on in the Capitol is galling, exposes the cynical shell game, and reveals the depths to which politicians will plunge to deceive voters and increase taxes.

Clearly, the real agenda the politicians have for Proposition 21 is to fool you into approving a car tax for state parks so that they can shift money towards other wasteful spending.

Send the politicians a message with a NO vote on Proposition 21.

California's most trusted taxpayer protection organizations are opposed to Proposition 21.

The California Taxpayers' Association opposes Proposition 21.

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association opposes Proposition 21.

“As well intended as this measure may appear, Prop. 21 is nothing more than a $1 billion car tax every two years on Californians while offering no guarantee that state parks will be repaired or kept open.

“But even worse, voting for Prop. 21 only enables and encourages the Sacramento politicians to maintain their wasteful spending while finding deceptive ways to increase our taxes. Vote NO on Prop. 21.”—Jon Coupal, President, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association

Join these taxpayer advocates in voting NO on Proposition 21.

Sacramento needs real budget reform and real solutions. Proposition 21 is just more “ballot box budgeting” that makes Sacramento dysfunctional. We need to hold the politicians accountable and force them to do their jobs for us.

Proposition 21 just promotes more budget chaos and politics as usual and doesn't address the most pressing problems in California like education and job creation.

Proposition 21 may seem well intended but don't be fooled. It's just Sacramento politics as usual and a sneaky way to increase our taxes by $1 billion every two years.

Say NO to Sacramento. Say NO to car taxes. Vote No on Proposition 21.

PETER FOY, California Chairman
Americans for Prosperity
MICHELLE STEEL, Member
California Board of Equalization

REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT AGAINST PROPOSITION 21

SACRAMENTO POLITICIANS HAVE DEVASTATED STATE PARKS AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

California state parks attract more than 80 million visits from residents and tourists annually, and generate enormous economic and public health benefits for our state and nearby communities.

Yet state parks have suffered in recent years at the whim of Sacramento politicians, attacking parks with erratic, severe and damaging funding cuts.

The impacts of Sacramento's neglect are devastating … parks closed, dirty and unsafe bathrooms, contaminated drinking water, buildings falling apart, dangerous and eroding trails, and delayed maintenance that only costs us more in the long run.

The price tag for backlogged maintenance: more than $1 billion.

The effects of closed and deteriorating parks, including lost jobs and revenues, ripple throughout California.

PROP. 21 ESTABLISHES A TRUST FUND—KEEPS PARKS OPEN AND PROTECTS TAXPAYERS

A coalition of citizens and respected organizations put Prop. 21 on the ballot as a solution. Prop. 21 creates a special Trust Fund that can only be used to maintain our parks and wildlife conservation programs. Prop. 21 mandates strict accountability, including a Citizens' Oversight Committee and annual audits, to ensure funds are properly spent and the Trust Fund cannot be raided by politicians for pet projects.

DIVERSE AND RESPECTED COALITION SUPPORTS PROP. 21

A bipartisan group of 300 organizations, representing millions of Californians, supports Prop. 21, including:

• California Federation of Teachers;
• California League of Conservation Voters;
• California Nurses Association;
• California State Lifeguard Association;
• League of California Afterschool Providers;
• Local chambers of commerce.

YES on 21. www.YesForStateParks.com

GRAHAM CHISHOLM, Executive Director
Audubon California
JAN LEWIS, State Chair
California Action for Healthy Kids
ELIZABETH GOLDSTEIN, President
California State Parks Foundation