A new poll shows they like the plan, but, they aren't so crazy about the politicians who would implement it. Voter approval for his tax hike surpasses approval of the governor himself. Governor Brown's approval rating is 42 percent, according to a Public Policy Institute of California poll.
The same poll asked voters about the governor's proposed tax plan. It would to raise the sales tax by a half-cent and, high income earners would start paying more income tax -- starting with individuals who make more than $250,000 a year.
Here are the results: 65 percent of adults surveyed say they support the additional taxes in the plan; 89 percent say they've already seen government services and schools affected by spending cuts and 85 percent say they are "very" or "somewhat" concerned about the impact of looming trigger cuts.
Governor Brown is expected to announce, this week which dramatic, mid-year automatic spending cuts will take effect. All projections show state revenues will come up billions of dollars short, and that's the trigger. $1 billion dollars short and universities and social services budgets will be slashed to the tune of $100 million dollars each. If the state is $2 billion short, public schools may have to shorten the school year seven days to 168 days.
The governor's tax plan would generate $7 billion dollars a year, for five years, then the taxes go away. The legislative analyst projects the state's budget deficit next year will be $13 billion.
