Anti-tax advocates petition Jerry Brown to cap cap-and-trade program

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Anti-tax advocates petitioned the governor to squelch California’s plans for a "cap-and-trade" program to control greenhouse gases.

Anti-tax advocates delivered more than 2,500 cards and petitions to Gov. Jerry Brown’s office on Wednesday as part of an effort to squelch California’s plans for a cap-and-trade program to control greenhouse gases.

Californians Against Higher Taxes and business groups delivered the petitions against what they call an illegal and hidden energy tax. The cap-and-trade program would limit greenhouse gas emissions by requiring polluters to purchase pollution credits at auction.

But John Kabateck, with the National Federation of Independent Businesses, said it amounts to an illegal tax that would kill businesses.

"Experts say that this tax could drain $30 billion from California employers by the year 2020," said Kabateck. "Those costs will have to be passed onto someone, and that means small business owners and consumers are going to be hit with higher prices."

Opponents also say the program is unconstitutional without a vote by the people or a two-thirds vote in the Legislature.

Assembly Speaker John Perez has said spending and regulating auction revenues doesn’t constitute a tax.