When Proposition 13, California’s iconic property tax restrict measure, went earlier than voters in June 1978, the state’s governor, Jerry Brown, denounced it.
“It’s a ripoff,” Brown declared. “It’s a long-term tax improve.”
Two months later, after voters overwhelming endorsed the measure, Brown did a 180-degree pirouette, declaring himself a “born-again tax cutter.”
“No new taxes,” Brown promised. “Voters have advised us they need a tax lower. They don’t need a shell sport.”
Going through re-election to a second time period later that yr, Brown sponsored a state tax lower to obey, he stated, the favored mandate.
Two months after profitable re-election, Brown delivered his inaugural handle and proposed an modification to the U.S. Structure requiring the federal authorities’s price range to be balanced.
“A constitutional conference to suggest an modification to steadiness the price range is unprecedented, however so is the political paralysis that stops essential motion,” Brown stated, blaming deficit spending for a pointy improve in inflation “as harmful to our social well-being as an invading military.”
Thereupon, Brown beseeched the state Legislature to go a decision supporting his name for a constitutional conference, touching off a circus-like spherical of legislative hearings.
It was rigorously orchestrated political theater, clearly geared toward carving out a platform for Brown’s second run on the presidency in 1980 by portraying incumbent President Jimmy Carter as a spendthrift out of contact with widespread help for austerity and tax cuts.
Brown garnered a lot media consideration for his newly minted trigger however his 1980 presidential run was a catastrophe, profitable precisely one delegate to the Democratic conference. Carter later misplaced the presidency to Brown’s predecessor as governor, Ronald Reagan.
This little bit of political historical past is obtainable as a result of it appears to be repeating itself 45 years later.
Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is clearly making an attempt to increase his nationwide political profile for no matter purpose, is now embracing his personal modification to the U.S. Structure, including gun management provisions emulating these in California.
It might increase the authorized age for gun possession to 21, require common background checks, impose minimal ready intervals and institute an assault weapons ban.
“We wish to go on the offense and be for one thing and construct a motion that’s backside up, not high down,” he advised Politico prematurely of his announcement in June.
Extra not too long ago, as a decision was drafted within the Legislature to help Newsom’s campaign, he castigated the U.S. Supreme Court docket’s gun management choices, a lot as Brown had pinned inflation on Carter 45 years earlier.
“This Supreme Court docket is that dangerous,” Newsom stated. “The Bruen determination was that dangerous. After I say code pink, that is code pink. California’s led the nation on frequent sense gun security legal guidelines.
“And we’ve got the receipts,” Newsom added. “The efficacy of these legal guidelines is demonstrable. The information bears out – California’s gun loss of life charges considerably declined since California’s management on this area.”
The cause-and-effect relationship Newsom poses is questionable, as a result of there are numerous different elements affecting violent crime. Furthermore, the state’s gun management legal guidelines will not be as bulletproof as he implies.
California’s assault rifle ban is one thing of a joke. The focused firearms are available in gun shops after present process a couple of beauty alterations that do nothing about their lethality. Whereas law-abiding gun homeowners should undergo paper hoops to purchase new firearms, there’s a vigorous illicit market that enables the feloniously inclined to purchase all of the weapons they need.
Like Brown’s effort, Newsom’s gun campaign is only a political stunt designed to garner him extra nationwide media consideration. He has zero probability of getting his gun management modification launched, a lot much less adopted, and he is aware of it.
Dan Walters is a CalMatters columnist.
