Gov. Jerry Brown held a telephone conference with 16 California State University student journalists Tuesday informing them what would happen if Proposition 30 does not pass on Nov. 6.

“If we don’t pass this thing, tuition is going to go up no question about it,” Gov. Jerry Brown said. “If we do pass it, not only will tuition will (be) held down this year and next year, I’ll try beyond that, and you will also get a rebate” Governor Brown said.

Prop. 30 will increase taxes on individuals earning $250,000 for seven years and sales taxes by one-fourth of a cent for four years to fund schools.

During the 20 minute telephone conference, Gov. Brown took questions from several student journalist regarding topics ranging from a survey suggesting a decrease on voter support on Prop. 30 to a continuance plan if Prop. 30 is defeated.

“A continuance plan if Prop. 30 doesn’t pass is already in the law,” Gov. Brown said. “It is to cut $250 million from Cal State (Universities), $250 million from the University of California, $500 million from community colleges and about $4.9 billion from K-12 (schools). It’s not pretty.”

When asked about why the tax increase was only temporary, Brown said he wanted to take one bite at a time.

“We have a temporary crisis,” Gov. Brown said. “No. 1, the mortgage meltdown reduced the general fund budget from $107 billion to somewhere (in) the low 80s and now we are coming back, but we are not where we were. Secondly, California went in debt.”

Alice Sunshine, the communications director of the California Faculty Association who helped to coordinate the conference, said this was the first conference given by a governor of California to CSU student journalists.

“It is really nice that he did it, because you all publish papers that really help explain why students need to vote in this election,” Sunshine said.

From the beginning to end Gov. Brown encouraged student journalists listening to take the pledge for the passage of Prop. 30.

“We want to spread this (pledge) around to tens of thousands and then far more than that going viral,” Gov. Brown said. “We want to get every young person in California voting for this because we know from the surveys that younger people are very strongly in support the only problems is that the voter turnout is not so great.”

Elizabeth Ramirez can be reached at [email protected]