The Yes on Prop 25 campaign’s new TV commercial emphasizes the measure does not raise taxes and punishes legislators if the budget is late.

The No on 25 side (of which I am a part) points out the legislators can avoid the punishment of no pay for failure to produce an on-time budget if the majority simply passes a sham budget, whether the governor signs it or not.

But, it is the tax issue that should receive the focus of voters. While there is a dispute whether taxes can be raised directly through the mechanism of Prop 25, there is no question revenue can be raised to cover the spending in a majority vote budget through increases in majority vote fees, which in many cases are disguised taxes.

Moreover, before voters buy the No taxes argument of Prop 25 supporters, they should consider who is behind the measure. Proposition 25 has been funded almost exclusively by public employee unions.

Where do public employee unions stand on the tax issue? Not five months ago the unions presented a list of $40 billion dollars in tax increases they want raised. That’s equivalent to a 47% tax increase on the current general fund budget.

Do you really think Proposition 25 is not about taxes? If so, I have this bridge for sale in Brooklyn….