October 25, 2012

Calif. State Colleges Hold Their Breath as 'Trigger Cut' Proposition Heads for Vote

'Trigger Cut' Proposition Heads for Vote in Calif. 1

Randy Pench, Sacramento Bee, MCT, Landov

Gov. Jerry Brown urges students to approve Prop 30. Some of the measure's expected revenue is already slotted to fix a $15.7-billion budget shortfall.

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close 'Trigger Cut' Proposition Heads for Vote in Calif. 1

Randy Pench, Sacramento Bee, MCT, Landov

Gov. Jerry Brown urges students to approve Prop 30. Some of the measure's expected revenue is already slotted to fix a $15.7-billion budget shortfall.

By Lee Gardner

As November 6 draws closer, chances are growing slimmer that a California ballot initiative designed to stave off nearly $1-billion in state higher-education cuts will win favor with voters.

A poll commissioned in March by the Los Angeles Times and the University of Southern California found that Proposition 30, which would temporarily raise sales taxes by a quarter-cent and increase income taxes on top earners, was supported by 64 percent of the registered voters polled. But