Brown says lawmakers view taxes as ‘sexually transmitted disease’

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Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday accused some state lawmakers of adhering to “the notion that taxes are like some kind of sexually transmitted disease.”

Brown made the comments at a clean-energy summit in Las Vegas, during a panel discussion that included Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire and Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval.

Brown’s original 2011-12 budget included a plan to raise vehicle, sales and income taxes, but could not find any Republican support for the measure in the Legislature. He has said he would like to see revenue proposals on the November 2012 ballot, but has not yet backed any specific tax proposal.

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-- Anthony York