Isaac Martin Discusses Prop 13 on KQED

June 6th was the 30 year anniversary of California's Proposition 13, a bill that reduced state tax rates; limited tax increases to no more than 2 percent a year; required a 2/3 vote to increase taxes; and made taxes based on purchase price rather than market value, which created a common tax rate and inflation cap for homeowners and rolled property values back to their 1975 level. Every year since the bill passed, amendments or modifications have been proposed in Sacramento, to little success.

Isaac Martin, author of The Permanent Tax Revolt: How the Property Tax Transformed American Politics (2008), joined host Michael Krasny, and fellow guests Jonathan Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, Mark DiCamillo, senior vice president for the Field Research Corporation, and Peter Schrag, author of California: America's High-Stakes Experiment on KQED's Forum to discuss Prop 13's history and legacy.

Martin argues that the backlash against rising property taxes and property values in the 1970s was not a conservative backlash against the government. Rather, it was a move to seek government protection from an out of control housing market.

The author points out that historically Prop 13 became a nationwide symbol of tax revolt, prompting politicians in other states to take their cue from California when creating or modifying their own tax plans.

Martin also no longer considers Prop 13 a "movement," stating that it has become institutionalized and that there is an established voting bloc in place to defend it.  According to data by guest Mark DiCamillo, a recent poll shows that 57% of California residents polled would vote to pass Prop 13 if it were presented today.

To listen to the full program, click here.