Gov. Jerry Brown’s tax initiative tops list of ballot measures

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Let the campaigning begin.

Secretary of State Debra Bowen on Monday assigned numbers to the 11 propositions that will appear on the November ballot, hours after a Sacramento Superior Court judge lifted a restraining order that had prevented her from doing so.

Topping the list will be Proposition 30, Gov. Jerry Brown’s initiative to raise income and sales taxes to help eliminate California’s deficit. The measure would increase the sales tax by a quarter-cent for four years and levies on the wealthy by one to three percentage points for seven years.

Democrats in the Legislature gave Brown’s measure a boost last month, passing a bill that moved constitutional measures such as Brown’s ahead of all other initiatives on the ballot. But Molly Munger, an initiative proponent pushing a rival tax measure to increase income levies more broadly, challenged that move in court, arguing that the maneuver was illegal.

A judge initially granted Munger’s request for a restraining order against Bowen until he had a chance to hear the merits of the case. On Monday, Judge Michael Kenny dismissed the challenge, clearing the way for Bowen to assign numbers. Munger’s initiative will be labeled Proposition 38.

Brown did his part to ensure top billing, signing a bill Monday that removed an $11-billion water bond measure from the November ballot. It was the one initiative that would have preceded his under the new rules.

A full list of November’s initiatives follows:

Proposition 30: Increases income and sales taxes to help balance the state budget (backed by Gov. Jerry Brown).

Proposition 31: Constitutional amendment making changes to the state budget process.

Proposition 32: Prohibits political contributions by union or corporate payroll deduction.

Proposition 33: Allows auto insurance companies to set rates based on a driver’s history of insurance coverage.

Proposition 34: Death penalty repeal.

Proposition 35: Strengthens penalties for human trafficking.

Proposition 36: Changes Three Strikes law.

Proposition 37: Requires labeling of genetically engineered foods.

Proposition 38: Raises income taxes to pay for education and early childhood programs (backed by attorney Molly Munger).

Proposition 39: Changes business taxes to raise money for clean energy programs.

Proposition 40: Repeals newly drawn state Senate districts.

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-- Michael J. Mishak in Sacramento