Governor Brown and his coalition to raise taxes have released a series of new ads, but fact checkers say there are some misleading statments. Check out analysis here and campaign in opposition to the tax hike has released a fact check of statements from the ads, which you can view here.

Watch one of the governor's ads here:

As election day draws increasingly near, Governor Brown might be worried that support for Proposition 30 remains a very slim majority and numbers haven’t budged much, which some might call a weak showing at this point in the campaign with November just weeks away. The new poll results stem from the Public Policy Institute of California and the latest report reveals just a slight majority are in favor of Proposition 30, which would raise sales tax and income tax on the rich as a way to patch together the state budget. Record high disapproval of the governor among likely voters may play a factor in Prop 30’s numbers. As for the rival tax measure, Proposition 38 from Molly Munger, voters are evenly split with 45 percent supporting and 45 percent opposed.

Poll results on Proposition 32 are also noteworthy from the PPIC. Unions aren’t taking any chances on this measure because it would prohibit unions from using money from payroll deductions for political purposes. So labor groups have been gathering millions to defeat Prop 32 and it appears their advertising blitz has turned the tide against the measure, with 49% now saying they would vote no and 42% in support. The Tribune reports that “both Democrats and Republicans generally favor reining in unions' and corporations' political influence, yet a deep partisan divide is emerging on Proposition 32.”

Supporters of Proposition have released a new campaign video focusing on the role of special interests in Sacramento. Check out the video here:

New data from the Secretary of State’s Office reveals that opponents of Proposition 32 have vastly outspent supporters of the initiative, which –if passed -- would prevent unions from using paycheck deductions to pay for political activity. This is the main way that labor organizations raise money, so the measure would have a major impact on their political influence.

The Yes on 32 campaign has raised $3.2 million in contributions while $35.8 million has been raised by opponents. The Bee points out that supporters “have raised about 10 cents for every dollar raised by their opponents.”

You can see a list of donors in support of Prop 32 here.

A list of donors on the opposing side are here.

Critics suggest that special interests are using their undue influence to maintain the status quo and are throwing copious amounts of money –while they still can – to defeat the initiative. Critics also argue that unions have a monopoly of political power in Sacramento and that Prop 32 will curb that influence. Opponents of the measure call it faux campaign reform. The donation figures show it’s going to be an expensive fight.
 

With three major tax measures on the November ballot, Molly Munger is sticking to her guns by planning to spend even more of her wealth on “a big air war” in a push to get voters to support Proposition 38. As a refresher, this tax measure is a rival to the governor’s measure, Proposition 30. Under Munger’s effort, personal income taxes would be increased by $10 billion to fund K-12 and early childhood education. Munger has already spent more than $20 million of her own money.

While Munger publicly has called on voters to support both Proposition 30 and 38, she has also said that the governor’s measure doesn’t do anything for schools, despite his campaign rhetoric. She stated, “The governor] can’t sell education funding because he’s backing an initiative that doesn’t do anything for education funding.” Read more here.

Munger has also acknowledged that voters have reason to doubt the fiscal responsibility of Sacramento when it comes to tax increases (take the $54 million State Parks scandal). She commented, “Voters are worried about what has been stripped away from our schools. They are willing and ready to (spend more), but what stops them is they don’t think they can trust Sacramento with their money.” She argues that Prop 38 would ensure revenue will go directly to schools.