Gov. Jerry Brown's tax initiative tops full ballot

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Gov-Jerry-Brown-s-tax-initiative-tops-full-ballot-3693904.php

Gov. Jerry Brown's initiative to raise taxes received top billing on the November ballot just hours after a judge rejected a challenge from a competing measure Monday.

Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Michael Kenny denied a request from the Our Children, Our Future campaign to stop the secretary of state from placing the Democratic governor's tax measure atop the ballot.

As a result, the secretary of state proceeded with numbering the 11 measures — 10 initiatives and one referendum — on the November statewide ballot.

Brown's proposal to temporarily increase the state sales tax and income tax for incomes over $250,000 a year will appear first, as Proposition 30. The competing tax measure to fund public schools is Proposition 38.

Monday's decision remains on appeal from anti-tax advocates.

The legal wrangling began after Democratic lawmakers passed a bill that moved bond measures and constitutional amendments such as Brown's to the top of the ballot in November, when voters will confront a barrage of questions.

Along with raising taxes, voters will be asked about ending executions, limiting lifetime sentences for career criminals and restricting political contributions.

Brown said Monday that his ballot measure is "so important that it deserves the dignity of being ranked with other constitutional measures and bond issues" because it fundamentally changes state operations.