Proposition 13 limits property taxes in California. But it also requires a two-thirds vote of the public to increase any special taxes. Six Democratic sponsored bills making their way through the Senate would lower that voter requirement to 55 percent approval.

With a legislative super-majority in place, many Democrats see this as an opportune time to roll back some of the limits of Prop. 13.

 Jon Coupal, President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, see such moves as an attack on the measure.

"The one thing that is critical for our side is to make sure that all legislators in both houses understand that a vote for any of these bills is a direct assault on Prop. 13," he says.

But Democratic leaders are not in any hurry to take on the issue this year.  Since the bills are Constitutional Amendments they would not go before voters until at least 2014. Senate President pro Tem Darrel Steinberg's office says he will consider the amendments carefully, but he believes 2013 is a year to is a "produce significant achievement in a number of areas unrelated to taxes."