Californians will soon vote on six statewide ballot propositions taking place via a special election on May 19. The propositions came about due to a special legislative session in Sacramento in February. These propositions arose as a product of a negotiated effort between Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Democratic majority in the California State Legislature and a handful of Republican legislators.
The information below provides a brief summary of the six propositions as well as a listing of those in favor of them and opposed to them.
Proposition 1A also known as State Finance
This would add a Constitutional amendment that will increase the annual contributions to the state’s rainy day fund. The rainy day fund is used to describe a reserve amount of money to be used in times when regular income is disrupted or decreased; so typical operations can continue.
Those in favor: Governor Schwarzenegger, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), Assemblyman Roger Niello (R-Fair Oaks), Assembly Minority Leader Mike Villines (R-Clovis), Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee, Modesto Bee.
Those oppose: Republican candidates for governor, state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, former EBay chief Meg Whitman, Anthony Wright, executive director of Health Access California.
Proposition 1B also known as Education Finance
This would mandate supplemental payments of $9.3 billion to schools and community colleges. If approved by a popular vote majority, the measure will only be enacted if California Proposition 1A (May 2009) also wins. That proposal would allow an extension of tax increases imposed as part of the Fiscal Year 2009-2010 budget agreement, resulting in an additional tax increase of some $16 billion.
Those in favor: Governor Schwarzenegger, Speaker of the Assembly Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles), David Sanchez, president of the California Teachers Association, San Jose Mercury News.
Those oppose: Republican candidates for governor, state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, former EBay chief Meg Whitman
Proposition 1C also known as California State Lottery
Proposition 1C would authorize borrowing against future lottery proceeds as a way to avoid state government spending cuts. The 2009-2010 budget plan includes $5 billion from this source, and the measure would also authorize similar borrowing in future years. It does not include a cap on the amount of future lottery revenue that could be pledged to pay for current spending. The proposal would also repeal the current requirement that lottery revenue be used only for education. Instead, the legislature could appropriate lottery revenue for any purpose.
Those in favor: Governor Schwarzenegger, Assemblywoman Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee, Modesto Bee.
Those oppose: California Nurses Association, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Peace and Freedom Party, state Senator Bob Huff (R-29th), California Coalition Against Gambling Expansion.
Proposition 1D also known as, Children and Families Act
Proposition 1D would authorize a fund-shift of $268 million in annual tobacco tax revenue currently earmarked for “First Five” early childhood development programs. That revenue, plus $340 million in unspent “First Five” tobacco tax money now held in a reserve fund, would instead be used to pay for other state government health and human services programs that serve children, including Medicaid, foster care, child care subsidies, preschool programs and more.
Those in favor: Governor Schwarzenegger, Assemblywoman Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee
Those oppose: League of Women Voters, California Nurses Association, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Health Access California.
Proposition 1E also known as, The Mental Health Services Act
Proposition 1E would authorize a fund-shift of approximately $230 million annually in income tax surcharge revenue currently earmarked for specified mental health programs. For two years that revenue would instead be used to pay for the state’s share of the “Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Program,” a federally mandated Medicaid program for low income persons under age 21.
Those in favor: Governor Schwarzenegger, state Sen. Denise Moreno Ducheny (D-San Diego), Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee.
Those oppose: California Psychiatric Association, California Psychological Association, California Nurses Association, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
Proposition 1F also known as, State officer salary increases
The measure would prohibit the state commission that sets salary levels for the governor, other top state officials and members of the California State Legislature from increasing those salaries if the state General Fund is expected to end the year with a deficit.
Those in favor: Governor Schwarzenegger, state Sen. Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria), Los Angeles Times, California Teachers Association, California Taxpayers Association.
Those Oppose: National Federation of Social Workers, California, California Federation of Teachers.