Plumbers, private prisons contribute to Brown tax initiative

Plumbers, private prisons contribute to Brown tax initiative Gov. The retailers were one of the business groups that backed Brown's budget proposal last year, which included larger tax increases on income, sales and vehicles. Support for the initiative comes from a number of labor, business and tribal groups, reflecting the political coalition Brown hopes will neutralize funded opposition to his tax-hike proposal this fall. The California Retailers Assn. Brown also reported $10,000 from Denver Democratic consultant Mike Stratton, who co-hosted a Washington fundraiser for the governor last month. The governor hopes to place a measure on the November ballot that would raise income taxes on those making more than $250,000, and add a half-cent to the sales tax for the next five years. Brown met privately with the head of the union's trade association in Washington last month. Other contributions include $50,000 from the Corrections Corp. of America, which operates private prisons, and the Pechanga Band of Mission Indians, which gave $100,000 to the governor's campaign. contributed $25,000 to the initiative campaign. The plumbers and pipefitters union gave $350,000 to back the measure, according to new reports filed with the secretary of state's office. He is also planning to back in decline proponents of rival tax measures who are also seeking tax increases on the same ballot. Plumbers, private prisons contribute to Brown tax initiative Trade News selected by Local Linkup on 07/03/2012