Does anyone want to help summarize the props on the upcoming ballot?

[theoceansnerves]

there are 16 of them this year! i have to imagine there are going to be HUGE misunderstandings of these due to misinformation campaigns and the fact there are so many of them (i don't even know what they are yet!) perhaps if someone is knowledgeable about one or more you could post a response in this thread giving us some information?

this might be a good place to start: http://www.smartvoter.org/2004/11/02/ca/state/prop/

[PeaceProgProsp]

1. Proposition 1A. Protection of Local Government Revenues: NO

Should local property tax and sales tax revenues remain with local government thereby safeguarding funding for public safety, health, libraries, parks, and other local services? Provisions can only be suspended if the Governor declares a fiscal necessity and two-thirds of the Legislature concur.
---

The problem with all props is that they're a devil's bargain. They're always half-good/half-bad. E.g., they promise health care for the poor, but they pay for it out of regressive sales tax (thus shifting the burden to suppor the good thing on to people who can least afford the burden).

For example, this one sounds good, but any time you see 2/3rds majority needed to do something, you know that in CA that just means the Republicans want to make sure that they can still control the fiinances of the government. Since Republicans are threatened with never being near 50% of the leg again, there have been a ton of props lately trying to change things to requiring a 2/3rds vote.

I'd vote against this one based on that requirement alone.

Furthermore, it seems like this propostion will condemn poor areas to being poor, and guarantee rich areas stay rich.

[Rebel_with_a_cause]

26. 1A is Arnie's baby--the Gropernator wants a YES here, and on 65

Proposition 65 would stop the state from balancing their budget on the backs of local governments.
Proposition 65 would not raise taxes
Proposition 65 would not increase funding for local governments
OPPONENTS SAY

Proposition 65 would rob the state of budgeting flexibility.
Proposition 65 does not effect top-to-bottom reform of state finances.
Proposition 65 has been supplanted by Proposition 1A, which was developed with the cooperation of the Governor, Legislature and earlier proponents of Proposition 65.

SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION

No official ballot arguments in support have been submitted. The original supporters are now proponents for Proposition 1A.

http://ca.lwv.org/lwvc/edfund/elections/2004nov/id/prop65.html

[PeaceProgProsp]

2. Proposition 59. Public Records, Open Meetings -- NO?

(Legislative Constitutional Amendment)
Shall the Constitution be amended to include public's right of access to meetings of government bodies and writings of government officials while preserving specified constitutional rights and retaining existing exclusions for certain meetings and records?
--
A little good a little bad?

This one seems to say that the constitution should guarantee public access for some things and, uh, guarantee privacy for other things.

I think I can do without the guarantted public access in exchange for not guaranteeing privacy.

At the very least, we need to know what those "existing exclusions" are.

[Ranec]

22. I think I'm voting "Yes" here

It may not make much of a difference but the law looks good.

The only thing it guarantees on the privacy side are things that are already guaranteed to be private-- medical testing information, personnel matters, etc.

"Sec 3 (b) (3) Nothing in this subdivision supersedes or modifies the right of privacy guaranteed in Section 1 or affects the construction of any statute, court rule, or other authority to the extent that it protects that right to privacy...."

No other prviacy rights are establlished.

Basically, the ammendment goes out of its way to say that it doesn't change any existing law, but just wants to put into the constitution a general right of access to information.

I think this is a good for open government in future cases.

[Ranec]

23. General thoughts on taxation...(No on 63, 67)

I don't like paying for government via proposition.

I feel like I am against 63 and 67 because I dislike adding these surcharges and taxes through this process.

I wish the legislature would just increase the income taxes, and then budget for these basic services. Propositions on top of propositions just gum up the works.

There is no flexibility once these things are passed. It may not make any sense at all in five years, but we won't be able to change the law because it was a prop.

Paying for medical care for the indigent is something congress and the state house should take up. What does this have to do with cell phones? It seems gimmicky and likely to lead to unintended consequences.

But I'm willing to listen to someone who disagrees.

[PeaceProgProsp]

3. Proposition 60. Election Rights of Political Parties -- NO

State of California (Legislative Constitutional Amendment)

Shall the general election ballot be required to include candidate receiving most votes among candidates of same party for partisan office in primary election?
--

This is unclear, but it looks like they want to make sure that if two Democrats get a lot of votes, they both end up on the ballot so that they can divide the vote and the Republican can sneak in.

This is another one of those things Republicans are doing to try to protect power while not being able to get 50% of the vote.

[davidinalameda]

14. is that the open primary one

or whatever the fucked up system they use in Louisiana?

hell no!

[Xithras]

28. Here's what 60 really does:

It requires that the candidate with the most California primary votes is in the fall ballot. Here are the implications of that:

Let's say that Howard Dean had won the California primary, but didn't have the votes in the other states and lost the nomination to Kerry. If this passes, both Dean AND Kerry would have to be on the fall ballot...Kerry because he's the official candidate, and Dean because he won the California primary for the party.

Prop 60 actually poses a threat to both parties, and deserves a solid NO vote.

[theoceansnerves]

29. how weird

i don't see how that could be good for ANY party, even third parties. what a strange idea?

[theoceansnerves]

4. Prop 71 - stem cell research - yes

Should the "California Institute for Regenerative Medicine" be established to regulate and fund stem cell research with the constitutional right to conduct such research and with an oversight committee? Prohibits funding of human reproductive cloning research.

--
this will pretty much be the future of medicine. it is funded by bonds, but isn't everything anymore? why not let california take the progressive lead once more. also- it prohibits cloning to create babies- this is only going to be used to find cures for debilitating diseases.

[BrotherBuzz]

7. Hey, it might even allow my buddy to return home...

My friend is presently working in Singapore on state sponsored stem cell research. His job in California disappeared when the money dried up.

[theoceansnerves]

10. and people complain about outsourcing

healthcare and renewable energy are where a large majority of future jobs are going to be. right now the far east is gaining a monopoly on one of these- stem cell research. you mentioned singapore, and i know it's huge in china too.

[AP]

15. A little good a little bad. The bond brokers will get their millions.

Why can't the state just fund this out of a progressive income tax?

Or the state should sell their own damn bonds rather than go through private brokers.

They're doing it so often, it's clearly now cost effective to do it all in-house.

[theoceansnerves]

5. Prop 69 - DNA database - NO

Should collection of DNA samples from all felons, and from others arrested for or charged with specified crimes be required with submission to state DNA database? Provides for funding.?

----
"guilty until proven innocent" is my take on this- would require anyone arrested for suspicion of having committed a felony to submit their DNA to the database, even if they were later found innocent or never charged. the aclu, minority rights groups and the afl-cio are all opposed to this prop.

[AP]

16. Convicted-maybe. But just arrested? Sounds like the cops would go arround

arresting anyone on pretext just to get their DNA in a database.

There's got to be a better way.

In the UK they go arround asking people in a community to volunteer samples. If people say no, they go on the suspect list. I believe they destroy the DNA records for everyone who's innocent/not a criminal once it's determined there's no match.

I think a DNA database for convicted sex offenders and peeping toms and child abusers would be a fine idea. And I'd be open to hearing arguments on both sides for, perhaps, getting this sort of DNA evidence on a court order from people who have merely been charged with just those crimes.

[theoceansnerves]

6. Prop 64 - Limit on lawsuits - NO NO NO NO NO

Should individual or class action "unfair business" lawsuits be allowed only if actual loss suffered? Only government officials may enforce these laws on public's behalf.

----
bad idea.
would destroy the ability of private citizens or environmental groups to sue businesses for polluting, as has historically been done under the unfair business competition law.

opposed by the sierra club, defenders of wildlife, united farm workers, and many others.

[Trish]

8. Thank You!

This is very helpful for those of us working hard on canvassing/phone banking....and otherwise occupied at this very busy time!!!
:)

[theoceansnerves]

9. Prop 63 - mental health services expansion - YES

Should a 1% tax on taxable personal income above $1 million to fund expanded health services for mentally ill children, adults, seniors be established?

----

will provide mental health services (running the gamut from counseling, housing, care and prescription drugs) to the poor, uninsured and underinsured. for example, here in orange county, mental health services are not covered by the medical services for indigents plan. this proposition would allow those people to get help. way too many supporters to list- pretty much the only people opposed are republican assemblypersons and the republican party of california.

[AP]

17. That's a good one.

[theoceansnerves]

11. Prop 68 - Non-Tribal Commercial Gambling Expansion - NO

Should tribal compact amendments be authorized? Unless tribes accept, should casino gaming be authorized for sixteen non-tribal establishments? Percentage of gaming revenues fund government services.

----
this would effectively kill the current monopoly that indian casinos have to operate slot machines in the state of california. i have absolutely nothing against gambling, and i think vice laws are ridiculous. however, this has the potential to further screw the american indian- something this country has been doing since the first european set foot on the continent.

there might be some disagreement on this one? feel free to post your objections!

[AP]

18. Why can't we give tribes college grants, SBA grants, and land rather than

gambling rights.

Those first three things contribute back to society. They create more social wealth and a better economy and more happiness.

Gambling just sucks a lot of wealth out of communities and creates misery.

I'm all for laws that don't make it more economical to do bad things to society. It's not "vice laws" it's rational economy laws.

I hate state-sponsored/state-aided gambling.

[theoceansnerves]

20. yeah-

i have a feeling we're not going to get a consensus here on du about this one. it actually has it's own thread so it can be discussed there i suppose.

[theoceansnerves]

12. Prop 66 - Limitations on "Three Strikes" Law - YES

Should the "Three Strikes" law be limited to violent and/or serious felonies? Permits limited re-sentencing under new definitions. Increases punishment for specified sex crimes against children.

---

would require that second and third offenses be serious or violent felonies. to me the system right now is very arcane (i don't like mandatory sentencing laws at all), and not what the original initiative intended. this will also make sentencing of child molesters harsher.

[AP]

19. Definitely yes.

[theoceansnerves]

13. Prop 72 - Health Care Coverage Requirements - YES

Should legislation requiring health care coverage for employees, as specified, working for large and medium employers be approved?

---

that's not very descriptive, here's what a yes vote means:

Certain employers would be required to provide health coverage for their employees and in some cases dependents through either (1) paying a fee to a new state program primarily to purchase private health insurance coverage or (2) arranging directly with health insurance providers for health care coverage. The state would also establish a new program to assist lower-income employees to pay their share of health care premiums.

---

those certain employers are large businesses, employing over 200 people. businesses employing 50-199 people would be required to provide insurance, but not coverage extending to employees' dependents. small businesses with fewer than 50 employees would be exempt. does NOT require employers to switch to the new program if they are ALREADY providing health insurance to their employees- this is an important point.

who's opposed? burger king, mcdonalds, and carl's jr. to name a few.

[theoceansnerves]

21. anyone else ?

anyone else want to fill in some of the other ones? i think i did most that i could formulate an opinion on...some of the rest are kind of esoteric, and one of them doesn't even have websites for the yes/no sides.

[da_chimperor]

25. Which ones are missing? n/t

[Rebel_with_a_cause]

24. As a cross reference, here are endorsements from a dem group

Americans for Democratic Action --Southern CA Chapter

http://home.earthlink.net/~socalada/ADAWebsite/endorse.html


and another, from the San Fernando Valley Democratics

http://www.dpsfv.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=17

[theoceansnerves]

27. kick.

i'm kicking this to give new readers a heads up that we've been working on this here for a little while. if you have anything to add please do.