We are very proud to participate in this newly-formed coalition with some of the best progressive organizations in California to pass a “tax the wealthy” ballot initiative!

From an article that Dolores Huerta wrote on the Huffington Post:

“2012 stands as a monumental year for California. Conservative ideologues have hatched a ballot measure which they see as landing a decisive blow against the progressive movement: the Orwellian “Paycheck Protection” initiative, more accurately known as “Paycheck Deception.” If passed under the auspices of “campaign finance reform” this Republican scheme would take away the right of both corporations and unions to use payroll deductions for political purposes. Of course, corporations don’t use payroll deductions for political purposes, so it would, in effect, force a unilateral disarmament of California’s labor unions.

On the other hand, rumors abound of a very different sort of ballot initiative. One that would stand out as a bold solution to the imbalance of wealth in the hands of the 1%: a tax measure forcing the wealthiest Californians to pay a little more for the state that has given them so much. It wouldn’t restore our state to its former glory, but it would raise $6 billion dollars to lower college fees, rehire teachers, repair roads and reopen libraries and fire stations.

Our day revolved around these two diametrically opposed initiatives. But unlike so many conversations before, our strategy went beyond simply winning the election. Inspired by insights offered by Maya Wiley of the Center for Social Inclusion, Patrick Bresette of Demos, Steve Smith from the California Labor Federation and Ben Tulchin from Tulchin Research, we crafted messages that could cultivate a new vision of our state and inspire others to join our truth squad for the 99% bent on restoring the California Dream.”

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