INDUSTRY, ENVIRONMENTALISTS IN HEATED DEBATE OVER TAX-VOTE PROPOSITION

The classic battle between industry and environmentalists has emerged over Proposition 56, the initiative on the March ballot that would reduce the necessary legislative vote to pass the budget and tax legislation from 67% to 55%. While environmentalists argue the current two-thirds vote requirement empowers the minority party to undemocratically block environmental program funding and new taxes, industry contends that if the initiative passes, Democrats, who dominate the Legislature, will be able to ram through their own budget and pass...