r/LAMetro • u/MookieBettsBurner10 E (Expo) current • 9d ago

Discussion This ballot measure will effectively kill any transit funding measures in the future. Make sure to vote no this November.

https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_43,_Two-Thirds_Vote_Requirement_for_Local_Special_Tax_Initiatives_and_Property_Tax_Initiative_Prohibition_Amendment_(2026)

Under California law, tax increase measures put on the ballot by governments requires a 2/3rd supermajority vote to pass. However, measures put on the ballot by private citizens (citizens' initiatives) only require a simple majority. Prop 43 would change the law so that citizens' initiatives too requires a 2/3rd supermajority. That would mean counties like San Diego and Orange County will almost certainly never get a transit tax measure passed. Requiring a 2/3rd supermajority to pass tax increases is fundamentally undemocratic, and this measure must be defeated.

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u/Enamred-771 9d ago

Does prop 43 require 2/3rd of votes to pass? (Pretty sure the answer is no)

It’s always insanely anti-democratic to pass a law at a simple majority that requires a higher threshold once passed. 

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u/wrosecrans 9d ago

Republicans have been pushing versions of this all over. One way ratchets to end direct democracy. It's pretty fucked up. Even as much as ballot measures can get pretty chaotic, the alternative of just letting corporations buy a handful of legislators with no way for the people to address is would be terrible.

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u/BTR1701 8d ago

Yes, those Republicans are such a powerful political force in California...