So much for ‘affordability’: LA voters raise their own taxes, again

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It was the year of “affordability.” Or so we thought.

Earlier this month, LA County voters chose to pass Measure ER, a 0.5% sales tax increase that ostensibly will last for five years and will apply to almost everything you buy.

The Board of Supervisors put Measure ER on the ballot and said the money was needed to fund local healthcare services.

They named it “ER,” after “Emergency Room.” 

They gave an official title that didn’t mention taxes: “Essential Services Restoration Act.”

The description provided by the county clerk blamed “severe federal cuts enacted by the President and Congress.”

Actually, as Marc Joffe explained to The California Post, there are no “cuts.” The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” just slows the rate of growth in spending. And it adds a requirement that people who receive benefits also work or volunteer, if they are able.

But there’s no restraint on the spending side, so the supervisors (with the exception of Kathryn Barger, the lone dissenting vote) decided to go to the taxpayers for more money.

Several cities across the county protested. They pointed out that state legislation to allow such a sales tax increase, AB 1768, had not yet passed.

But the Democrat-dominated state Legislature did its partisan duty, and Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 1768 on June 1 — the day before Election Day.

For several days, it seemed Measure ER had failed. Just like tax increases on the ballot in San Francisco, San Diego and elsewhere.

But then more ballots arrived by mail. And just as socialist mayoral candidate Nithya Raman surged to second place, Measure ER was resuscitated from “No” to “Yes.”

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LA County voters have now passed three sales tax increases on themselves in the past decade, including two for homeless services (Measure H in 2017 and Measure A in 2024).

Voters in the City of LA also passed Measure ULA in 2022. The so-called mansion tax was supposed to fund affordable housing, but it has been a disaster, drastically reducing new apartment construction in LA while funneling cash to left-wing groups.

Now, Democrats in Sacramento have struck a backroom deal that will make future real estate tax increases harder to pass, but that leaves Measure ULA in place. (Fire-ravaged Pacific Palisades might get an exemption if a November ballot initiative passes.)

And legislators have just passed a bill to raise taxes on insurance premiums, to subsidize Medi-Cal (which, thanks to Gavin Newsom and the Democrats, also covers many illegal immigrants).

So when we complain about “affordability,” we, the voters, should take some responsibility.