--- [ LOS ANGELES ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=312) # The Hertzberg End Run PERSPECTIVE--State Senator Bob Hertzberg is a smart man; smart enough to know the power of language. According to his bio, as an undergraduate English major, he wrote a 400-page handbook titled *A Commonsense Approach to English*. To paraphrase a quote attributed to the late US Senator Everett Dirksen: A deft turn of a definition here, and a subtle re-characterization there, the next thing you know, we are dealing with some serious money! And that has been Hertzberg’s game plan since he returned to the legislature in December 2014. He introduced SB 8, a bill cloaked by a seemingly harmless name – the Upward Mobility Act. The senator described it as a tool to “modernize” the state’s tax structure. [He admitted it would be designed to yield another $10B in tax revenue.](https://phinvv.wordpress.com/2015/07/26/thoroughly-modern-bob-coming-to-a-legislature-near-you/) The bill died, but that did not stop Bob from reintroducing a replacement: [SB 1445](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160SB1445). As SB 8 proposed, [this new bill would extend the application of sales tax to services](https://phinvv.wordpress.com/2016/04/30/10bil-bob-a-new-strategy/), a direct hit to all segments of society – the middle class, most notably. As he did with SB 8, he is characterizing it as “modernization.” The only thing being modernized is the state’s access to our wallets. But the “serial hugger” is not stopping there. He again whipped out his English to Taxation dictionary to conjure up SB 1298. His objective is to do an end run around Prop 218’s requirement for voter approval of tax increases by redefining “sewer service” to include storm water projects. Perhaps “serial wordsmith” would serve as a better moniker for him. Please read the [excellent editorial concerning 1298 in the Daily News. ](http://www.dailynews.com/opinion/20160812/draining-taxpayers-wallets-by-changing-definitions) The bill has a worthwhile objective. It is designed to encourage recovery of storm water. No one is arguing with the benefits it offers to our drought-stricken state. But it is dangerous to override the benefits of government transparency and the legislative process. Californians are being asked to pony up more cash to fund a growing list of expensive projects. In Los Angeles alone, we are being asked to pass a permanent increase in the sales tax for the MTA. The city and county are considering spending over a billion dollars to provide housing to the homeless. There is also the trainwreck of HSR absorbing funds that could be used to enhance the state’s water capacity. Our state and local governments have no grasp of prioritization. Capital budgeting is completely absent in the minds of Hertzberg, his colleagues in Sacramento and counterparts at the local level. Taxpayers have a right to weigh in on what needs attention and the means of paying. To do so requires presenting the big picture of competing needs. Let the people decide what is most important and authorize appropriate funding levels. We do not have unlimited funds; we can only afford what can be sustained without breaking the bank. Sneaking around the voters and playing word games, as Hertzberg has been doing, is disrespectful to all of us. *(Paul Hatfield is a CPA and serves as President of the Valley Village Homeowners Association. He blogs at* Village to Village *and contributes to* CityWatch*. The views presented are those of Mr. Hatfield and his alone and do not represent the opinions of Valley Village Homeowners Association or CityWatch. He can be reached at:* [***phinnoho@aol.com***](mailto:phinnoho@aol.com)*.)* *-cw* Written by Paul Hatfield. ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2016/066r.png) August 15 2016 [](https://www.addtoany.com/share) [Comments](#disqus_thread) PERSPECTIVE--State Senator Bob Hertzberg is a smart man; smart enough to know the power of language. According to his bio, as an undergraduate English major, he wrote a 400-page handbook titled *A Commonsense Approach to English*. To paraphrase a quote attributed to the late US Senator Everett Dirksen: A deft turn of a definition here, and a subtle re-characterization there, the next thing you know, we are dealing with some serious money! And that has been Hertzberg’s game plan since he returned to the legislature in December 2014. He introduced SB 8, a bill cloaked by a seemingly harmless name – the Upward Mobility Act. The senator described it as a tool to “modernize” the state’s tax structure. [He admitted it would be designed to yield another $10B in tax revenue.](https://phinvv.wordpress.com/2015/07/26/thoroughly-modern-bob-coming-to-a-legislature-near-you/) The bill died, but that did not stop Bob from reintroducing a replacement: [SB 1445](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160SB1445). As SB 8 proposed, [this new bill would extend the application of sales tax to services](https://phinvv.wordpress.com/2016/04/30/10bil-bob-a-new-strategy/), a direct hit to all segments of society – the middle class, most notably. As he did with SB 8, he is characterizing it as “modernization.” The only thing being modernized is the state’s access to our wallets. But the “serial hugger” is not stopping there. He again whipped out his English to Taxation dictionary to conjure up SB 1298. His objective is to do an end run around Prop 218’s requirement for voter approval of tax increases by redefining “sewer service” to include storm water projects. Perhaps “serial wordsmith” would serve as a better moniker for him. Please read the [excellent editorial concerning 1298 in the Daily News. ](http://www.dailynews.com/opinion/20160812/draining-taxpayers-wallets-by-changing-definitions) The bill has a worthwhile objective. It is designed to encourage recovery of storm water. No one is arguing with the benefits it offers to our drought-stricken state. But it is dangerous to override the benefits of government transparency and the legislative process. Californians are being asked to pony up more cash to fund a growing list of expensive projects. In Los Angeles alone, we are being asked to pass a permanent increase in the sales tax for the MTA. The city and county are considering spending over a billion dollars to provide housing to the homeless. There is also the trainwreck of HSR absorbing funds that could be used to enhance the state’s water capacity. Our state and local governments have no grasp of prioritization. Capital budgeting is completely absent in the minds of Hertzberg, his colleagues in Sacramento and counterparts at the local level. Taxpayers have a right to weigh in on what needs attention and the means of paying. To do so requires presenting the big picture of competing needs. Let the people decide what is most important and authorize appropriate funding levels. We do not have unlimited funds; we can only afford what can be sustained without breaking the bank. Sneaking around the voters and playing word games, as Hertzberg has been doing, is disrespectful to all of us. *(Paul Hatfield is a CPA and serves as President of the Valley Village Homeowners Association. He blogs at* Village to Village *and contributes to* CityWatch*. The views presented are those of Mr. Hatfield and his alone and do not represent the opinions of Valley Village Homeowners Association or CityWatch. He can be reached at:* [***phinnoho@aol.com***](mailto:phinnoho@aol.com)*.)* *-cw* [ ![LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/dwp%20level%20pay%205-7-25.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)") ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/banners/signup-for-cw.png) ## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays & Thursdays Last Name [ ![Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/HHR/AHF-rent-too-high.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/104 "Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2") --- ## Featured CityWatch Stories [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/34/065h-34e1b43b.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33212:reminder-to-the-red-states-turnabout-is-fair-play&catid=395) ### [Reminder to the Red States, Turnabout is Fair Play](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33212:reminder-to-the-red-states-turnabout-is-fair-play&catid=395) GELFAND’S WORLD - Indiana has been pounded by rains that resulted in widespread flooding. While the rain was still comi… [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/d8/066m-d8f0fac6.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33229:democrats-finally-tell-iowa-and-new-hampshire-you-dont-go-first-anymore&catid=395) ### [Democrats Finally Tell Iowa and New Hampshire: You Don’t Go First Anymore](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33229:democrats-finally-tell-iowa-and-new-hampshire-you-dont-go-first-anymore&catid=395) GELFAND’S WORLD - Earlier in the week, the Democratic National Committee did something good. Mind you it wasn’t great… [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/d0/065o-d02f23ac.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33213:californias-empty-classrooms-are-a-warning-sacramento-cant-ignore&catid=378) ### [California’s Empty Classrooms Are a Warning Sacramento Can’t Ignore](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33213:californias-empty-classrooms-are-a-warning-sacramento-cant-ignore&catid=378) A STUDENT'S VIEW - California is spending more on public education, yet classrooms are emptying, campuses are closing… [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/da/066j-daf22e28.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33231:a-prisoner-a-peacemaker-and-israels-defining-choice&catid=375) ### [A Prisoner, A Peacemaker, and Israel’s Defining Choice](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33231:a-prisoner-a-peacemaker-and-israels-defining-choice&catid=375) P.O.V - Marwan Barghouti remains one of the most consequential—and controversial—figures in the Israeli-Palestinian con… [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/df/065q-dfb89383.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33224:john-mckinney-on-what-separates-the-city-attorney-candidates&catid=401) ### [John McKinney on What Separates the City Attorney Candidates](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33224:john-mckinney-on-what-separates-the-city-attorney-candidates&catid=401) INTERVIEW - Voters will have a clear and defining contrast in the goals and objectives of the remaining general electio… --- ## [ LOS ANGELES ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=312) [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2026/066o.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33239:why-some-los-angeles-car-accident-claims-become-harder-to-prove&catid=312)### [Why Some Los Angeles Car Accident Claims Become Harder to Prove](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33239:why-some-los-angeles-car-accident-claims-become-harder-to-prove&catid=312) [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2026/066n.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33228:lausd-demolishes-closed-schools-wasting-public-assets-and-community-hopes&catid=312)### [LAUSD Demolishes Closed Schools, Wasting Public Assets and Community Hopes](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33228:lausd-demolishes-closed-schools-wasting-public-assets-and-community-hopes&catid=312) [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2026/066h.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33234:homelessness-among-seniors-spikes-in-los-angeles-county-but-its-not-hopeless&catid=312)### [Homelessness Among Seniors Spikes in Los Angeles County, But It’s Not Hopeless](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33234:homelessness-among-seniors-spikes-in-los-angeles-county-but-its-not-hopeless&catid=312) [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2026/065m.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33215:a-second-karen-bass-term-gets-her-and-us-four-more-years-of-well-earned-voter-outrage&catid=312)### [A Second Karen Bass Term Gets Her (and Us) Four More Years Of Well-Earned Voter Outrage](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33215:a-second-karen-bass-term-gets-her-and-us-four-more-years-of-well-earned-voter-outrage&catid=312) [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2026/065l.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33216:the-cynicism-of-homelessness&catid=312)### [The Cynicism of Homelessness](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33216:the-cynicism-of-homelessness&catid=312)