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Politics & Government

Gov. Jerry Brown Pleads With UCSC Students to Vote for His Tax Increase to Help Schools

Brown said the sales tax increase is only one cent on a $4 purchase, but will help keep class sizes smaller and school years complete.

Governor Jerry Brown told a large gathering of students at UCSC  that if Proposition 30 failed in the November 6 election, it would be “a disaster.”

Brown gave the five-minute, impassioned speech to more than 200 students at UCSC’s Quarry Plaza after 9 a.m. He explained to a student body that spent a lot of time last year protesting fee hikes that the tax measure would preserve funding for education, public safety and disability services and help close the a $7 billion budget gap.

 “I said, ‘Let’s assume the voters of California will cover the gap with some new taxes.’ So I put that assumption into the budget. If that assumption turns out to be false then we have the cuts," said Brown, already lopping more than $20 million off the budget.

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"They go into effect automatically. Double digit tuition [increases], three weeks less school and thousands fewer classes. That is not an acceptable option. We must win Proposition 30 to put money into the University, not take it out,” said Brown.

Brown responded to critics who complain that too much of the money would come from an increased sales tax.

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“Let me tell you, the sales tax [increase] is one penny on a $4 purchase. One penny. Most of the money for Proposition 30 is coming from those with the highest incomes.

 “What we’re talking about is money, primarily, from those who have fabulous resources. I mean, it’s unimaginable the amount of wealth that has been accumulated in California.”

 The majority of the students gathered in the plaza were in support of Proposition 30 and agreed with the Governor’s choice to take money from the wealthy and put it towards education.

 “Personally I think that what he was saying was really good,” said Dillon Teal, a freshman at UCSC. “I also feel like he isn’t addressing that this isn’t going to solve all of our problems with education, and we do need to continue to fight in this fight for funding.”

 Kristin Villanueva, a UCSC sophomore, was not entirely convinced.

“How can I see the numbers work into my tuition? I want to see numbers actually change, not just words from a governor,” she said. “I will vote for it, but at the same time I’m skeptical.”

Although funds aren't earmarked for education, Teal, the freshman, said he thought it would still help.

 “I think that its main purpose is for education, and I think that we really need to be concise with the legislation that we’re writing so that way the elector is making sure that we are putting this money towards education, and we know exactly what we’re voting for.

California state assemblyman Bill Monning spoke after the Governor and added his support for the Proposition to the Governor’s.

“Students! There is no vote you will make that is more directly related to your self-interest than a ‘yes’ vote on Prop. 30.” said Monning.

 Also attending the rally were former mayor of Santa Cruz and current Secretary for Natural Resources John Laird and city council candidates Cynthia Matthews, Richelle Noroyan and Micah Posner.

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