Veterans across California join growing coalition warning measure puts state’s budget and essential services at risk
SACRAMENTO, CA — The state’s top veterans organizations alongside dozens of individual U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, and Navy veterans representing communities in every region of California today joined the growing coalition opposed to Proposition 40. These California-based veterans warned that by blowing a $25 billion hole in the state budget, Proposition 40 jeopardizes funding for health care, housing, mental health services, and other essential programs that veterans, military families, and communities across the state rely on.
The eight leading veterans organizations opposing Proposition 40, include:
- California Association of County Veteran Service Officers
- California State Commanders Veterans Council
- Military Officers Association of America, CA Council of Chapters
- Marine Corps League, Department of California
- Marine Corps Veterans Association
- Reserve Organization of America – Department of the Golden West
- Scottish American Military Society, Post 1921
- Veterans Affiliated Council
The No on 40 campaign is also continuing to welcome individual veterans to its coalition. This includes 87 veterans representing the U.S. Air Force, Army and Army Reserve, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy, and National Guard from cities in every region of California, including: Adelanto, Artesia, Atwater, Beaumont, Castro Valley, Citrus Heights, Downey, El Dorado, El Dorado Hills, Elk Grove, Escondido, Fairfield, Fallbrook, Folsom, Foresthill, Forestville, Fresno, Glendale, Grass Valley, Greenview, Hanford, Highland, Hollister, Hoopa, Hughson, Irvine, Lake Forest, Lemoore, Lincoln, Lodi, Lompoc, Los Angeles, Los Banos, Marina, Marina Del Rey, Mariposa, Mission Viejo, Modesto, Monterey, Moreno Valley, Nevada City, Oakdale, Oceanside, Orangevale, Oxnard, Penn Valley, Ramona, Rancho Cucamonga, Rancho Cordova, Redlands, Riverside, Rocklin, Roseville, Sacramento, Salinas, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Sanger, Santa Ana, Sheridan, Simi Valley, Stockton, Sunnyvale, Vacaville, Victorville, Visalia, Volcano, Westminster, Whittier, Wilmington, and Woodland Hills.
Among the veterans organizations opposing Proposition 40 is the California State Commanders Veterans Council, which serves as the collective voice of 26 major veterans service organizations and advocates on behalf of approximately 1.6 million California veterans and their dependents.
“For years, one of the top priorities of California’s veterans organizations has been making our state a more affordable place for veterans and their families to live, work and retire,” said California State Commanders Veterans Council Chair David West. “We are deeply concerned about what Proposition 40 could mean for California’s economy, state budget, and the essential services veterans depend on. If the measure results in billions in lost state revenue, it could put even more pressure on funding for health care, housing and other critical programs. We want to ensure California remains a place that veterans and their families can afford to live.”
Another leading organization adding its voice to the No on 40 coalition is the California Association of County Veteran Service Officers, which supports the county-based advocates who help veterans and their families access health care, education, disability compensation, and other earned benefits. In 2024–25, County Veterans Service Officers filed more than 316,000 benefits claims and helped secure more than $687 million in new and increased benefits for California veterans and their families.
“California’s veterans know what it means to keep a commitment. Proposition 40 makes promises it can’t guarantee while putting billions in state revenue at risk and adding even more pressure to an already strained state budget,” said U.S. Army OIF Veteran and California Association of County Veteran Service Officers Legislative Chair Jim Zenner. “That could leave less funding available for health care, housing, public safety and other essential services veterans, military families and communities across California count on. Veterans deserve responsible, sustainable solutions — not a risky experiment with California’s future.”
Proposition 40 would impose a new tax on accumulated wealth while earmarking the vast majority of the revenue it raises for one purpose. At the same time, the measure would create significant new risks for California’s state budget and provide little or no dedicated funding for other priorities, including housing, public safety and infrastructure.
These veterans join a broad and growing coalition of doctors, teachers, small business owners, community clinics, labor unions, firefighters, healthcare providers, first responders, affordable housing organizations, and working families all opposed to Proposition 40. Together, they warn that this measure is bad for California’s budget, economy, and future. Here’s more on what they’re saying about the measure.
Among the organizations opposing Proposition 40 are the California Teachers Association, California Medical Association, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, California Primary Care Association Advocates, California Hospital Association, California Professional Firefighters, State Building & Construction Trades Council of California, Housing California and the California School Boards Association, and many others..