Message:
Lobbyist Joe Kerr led and supported ballot measures that increased sales taxes1, fees2, and property taxes3 by over $39 billion on Californians.4,5
Lobbyist Joe Kerr even supported and funded a ballot measure that would make it easier for liberal politicians to raise taxes on working families.6
WE CAN’T AFFORD LOBBYIST JOE KERR
TO RAISE MORE OF OUR TAXES IN CONGRESS.
Sources:
- City of Garden Grove, Measure O, 2018 & City of Westminster, Measure SS, 2016
- City of Stanton, Measure J, 2012
- County of Contra Costa, Measure S, 2012
- “Diverting homeless funds from Proposition 63’s intended purpose” Orange County Register, 8/24/2023
- California Proposition 63, 2004
- California Secretary of State, 2004 Official Voter Information Guide, Prop. 56
- “Joe helped get over 200 bills and initiatives passed and signed into law by 5 Governors and 2 Presidents.” | JoeKerrforCongress.com
- “Kerr cited nearly $206 million in revenue that, through his lobbying efforts at the state and national level, has gone straight to the OFCA’s bank account.” | “Who Does Fire Authority Union Chief Work For?” Voice Of OC, 3/31/10
- Kerr was registered as the Orange County Professional Firefighters Association’s “Responsible Officer” for the organization’s “Lobbying Activity” during Legislative Sessions 2007-2008, 2009-2010, & 2011-2012.
- Orange County Professional Firefighters Association Local 3631 | Lobbying Activity, 2007-2008, California Secretary of State, Accessed July 25, 2024
- Orange County Professional Firefighters Association Local 3631 | Lobbying Activity, 2009-2010, California Secretary of State, Accessed July 25, 2024
- Orange County Professional Firefighters Association Local 3631 | Lobbying Activity, 2011-2012, California Secretary of State, Accessed July 25, 2024
- CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS BALLOT ISSUES COMMITTEE, Cal-Access, 2004, Accessed June 28, 2024
Background:
- Firefighter, Orange County Fire Authority (34 years)
- Candidate, 40th Congressional District (2023)
- Candidate, California State Senate District 38 (2022)
- Candidate, Orange County Board of Supervisors District 4 (2018)
- Vice President, Orange County Central Labor Council (AFL–CIO) (1997-2014)
- President, Orange County Professional Firefighters Association (17 years)
- Former Vice President, California Professional Firefighters
- Reported OCERS firefighter pension valued between $5,000,000 and $25,000,000 (2022 Financial Disclosure Report, U.S. House of Representatives)
- Since retiring in 2012, Kerr has earned over $1,410,241 from his pension (“Pensions”, Transparent California)
Summary:
Since launching his first campaign for public office in 2018, Joe Kerr has described himself as “fiscally conservative” and “anti-new taxes,” often touting his work as a labor leader where he “helped get over 200 bills and initiatives passed and signed into law,” created a “new healthcare system” for firefighters that “reduced costs” and “increased benefits,” supposedly without “raising a single penny in taxes.”
However, in his pursuit of padding firefighters’ salaries, benefits, pensions, and workers compensation payouts, Kerr did so at the expense of taxpayers, law enforcement, and the residents of Orange County and the state of California.
In 2005, upon discovering that the sheriff’s department was in possession of more than $75 million in excess money collected from Proposition 172, a half-cent sales tax earmarked for public safety, Kerr launched a campaign to divert 50% of any increase in future sales tax from the Proposition 172 revenue to Orange County firefighters via a ballot initiative. Kerr justified the campaign, stating, “They have so much money they can’t spend it.” The Orange County Treasurer, John Moorlach, called the ballot campaign “greed at its finest.”
Through ballot initiatives alone, measures that successfully passed that Kerr’s organizations contributed to while Kerr was present in a position of leadership are responsible for, at minimum, $39 billion in new taxes.
Additionally, while Kerr was present in a position of leadership, Kerr’s organizations contributed to several ballot measures that ultimately failed, but if passed, would have imposed an estimated total of $10 billion in new taxes.
Kerr’s record is absent of any semblance of fiscal conservatism. Kerr has prioritized his own personal and career interests by any means necessary, putting his and the coffers of firefighters above his neighbors, fellow first responders, and taxpayers.
Contrast:
Young Kim ran for Congress to lower taxes and protect our hard-earned money, and she has kept her promise.
In Congress, Young Kim:
- Returned nearly $25 million back to taxpayers from federal agencies.
- Voted against billions of dollars in tax increases.
- Fought to stop inflation and curb rising prices.
- Led the fight to cut taxes on Californians by repealing the cap on the State and Local Tax (SALT) Deduction.
Vote for Lower Taxes. Vote for Young Kim.