California Measure Would End Power to Tax or Spend, Brown Warns

A measure on California’s November ballot would eliminate the Legislature’s ability to tax and spend, proposing far-reaching changes to government that must be considered through the constitutional revision process and not at the ballot box, former Gov. Jerry Brown told the California Supreme Court.

Brown’s brief is one several backing Gov. Gavin Newsom’s lawsuit seeking to pull the measure from the ballot. Newsom and lawmakers argue the measure would improperly exceed the power of voters by revising—rather than amending—the state constitution.

“Every state legislature in the country has the power to enact taxes,” Brown wrote. “If ...