Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
From Ballotpedia
The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA) is tax revolt political organization that was sponsored by Howard and Estelle Jarvis in 1978. The group gained most of its recognition for leading the campaign to pass Proposition 13 which the group says saved California $528 billion dollars.[1]
The group not only works through the initiative and referendum process, but also has sponsored litigation fighting taxes, presidential debates, conferences and studies of the impact of Proposition 13.
The group also works with its national arm, the American Tax Reduction Movement and a PAC located in Sacramento.
Initiatives
- California Taxpayer Protection Act (2008)
- California Property Owners and Farmland Protection Act (2008)
1982: Passed Proposition 7, which prevented state income taxes from being raised by inflation
1986: Passed Proposition 62, which strengthened taxpayer's rights to vote on local tax increases
1993: Defeated Proposition 170
1994: Defeated Proposition 180
1996: Sponsored and passed Right to Vote On Taxes Act
2003: Blocked a $1.9 billion bond issue
2004: Defeated Proposition 56
2006: Defeated Proposition 88
Lawsuit against Contra Costa County
HJTA and California Foundation for Fiscal Responsibility won a lawsuit against Contra Costa County in July 2009. A court ruled that the organizations are entitled to a list of names and total retirement benefits for all Contra Costa County employees receiving an annual pension of at least $100,000. The taxpayer groups argued that the records should be public because (unlike the IRA and 401k plans of private citizens), the public employee benefit plans pay a guaranteed amount and are funded by taxpayers. Contra Costa Superior Court Judge Barry Baskin ruled in favor of the groups, saying a "transparent government is the cornerstone of our democracy."[2]
External links
References
- ↑ HJTA, "About us"
- ↑ Legal Newsline, "Calif. judge orders release of public pension data", July 4, 2009
