Perea expresses support for Prop. 39

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Published on 11/01/2012 - 5:21 pm

Written by Michael Kincheloe

Assemblymember Henry T. Perea, with George Burman and congressional candidate Otto Lee, speaks in support of Prop. 39.Flanked by representatives from local business, labor, faith and public health groups, Assemblymember Henry T. Perea voiced his support for Proposition 39, which would require multi-state businesses to base their income tax liability on the percentage of their sales in California.

Thursday afternoon’s press conference was held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno, which gets 95 percent of its electricity from solar energy. Standing in front of rows of solar panels located behind the Church, Perea told those assembled that the money that out-of-state businesses are saving could be better used as an investment in California’s roads and levees as well as in public education.

“The California tax code runs counter to what we need it to do,” Perea said. “I’m hoping that Valley voters will lead the way in closing this unfair loophole.”

Perea said that Prop. 39 will allow California to join states like New Jersey, where in-state and out-of-state firms are subject to the same tax formula.

Congressional candidate Otto Lee said that California loses out on thousands of jobs and a substantial amount of money under the current tax system.

“The money – close to a billion dollars – will be used to create jobs,” said Lee, who is challenging five-term incumbent Devin Nunes in the newly formed 22nd Congressional District. “It’s one of those no-brainer propositions.”

Representatives of the American Lung Association in California, the Coalition for Clean Air, the Fresno Madera Tulare Kings Central Labor Council and Real Goods Solar spoke prior to Perea’s arrival. George Burman, project administrator for the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno, introduced Perea.

“Special interests blocked bipartisan efforts to close this tax loophole,” Perea said. “Now it is up to the voters.”