California Initiative Guide: November 2006

Courtesy of Cliff, a Cal & Harvard graduate, who works for a nonprofit that advocates for juvenile justice (health, education, law, etc). He says, "With so many initiatives on the ballot this year, several of you have asked for a cheat sheet to help ease some of the confusion. For what it's worth, here are my perspectives. Of course, take 'em for what they're worth. If you really want to know what is going on, check out http://www.lao.ca.gov/ or http://www.cbp.org/. And, for a more progressive suggestions, go to http://www.indyvoter.org/caballot."

Cliff boils down these many initiatives and gives his take on them.

Be sure to vote this coming Tuesday! And know where you're going, visit http://www.mypollingplace.com/.

Prop 1A - This measure would guarantee that the sales tax on gasoline would go to transportation. It would also tie the Legislature's hands so that it could only dip into the funds twice every ten years and would have to repay any loans in three years. Plus, most of the money for "transportation" is really destined to create more freeways. Vote NO.

Prop 1B - A $20 billion bond for a variety of transportation and infrastructure needs with more than half going to reducing congestion. I'm split on this. Soon, the CA population will be at 50 million souls, and we all gotta get around somehow. However, this bond measure was pushed by some big construction magnates with little money going to mass transit. I'm probably voting NO but understand a Yes vote.

Prop 1C - A $2.8 billion housing and environmental bond put together by a notorious group of left wing housing radicals. My peeps! Says it is for seniors blah, but it really helps low income families. You're strongly advised to Vote YES.

Prop 1D - A $10.4 billion school bond, 70% for K-12, 30% for higher ed. Seeing as how the state is growing faster than a clan of rabbits, I suggest you Vote YES.

Prop 1E - Well, at least some good came out of Katrina. The state finally faced up to the fact the feds were never going to fix our levees and put a $4 billion bond on the ballot. Vote YES.

Prop 83 - The "Move to Mars" initiative takes away any remaining rights from persons arrested for sex crimes. GPS is great... in cars. Besides sticking the state with the tab for housing folks for more crimes and for longer periods, it makes it almost impossible to house an offender once they are released. This is just ridiculous. Vote NO.

Prop 84 - $5.4 billion for clean water. I LOVE water (not just because without it there'd be no beer), however this is one of those kitchen sink initiatives where the proceeds go to the highest bidder, not those in the greatest need. I will probably Vote YES, mostly becuase of the beer, but reasonable minds could differ.

Prop 85 - The loonie tune right wing is back with the same damn "parental notification" initiative they foisted on us just last year. It failed in 2005, but they hoping to sneak it by this year. Don't let them do it. This is an easy one, Vote NO.

Prop 86 -This initiative increases the price of a pack of smokes by $2.60 and raises about $1.2 billion for emergency room hospitals (to pay for servies to the uninsured), children's health insurance (for those kids that currently can't get insurance) and other anti-smoking prevention and research efforts. Our buddies Phillip and R.J. have already spent $70 mil on slick ads to convince you that teachers oppose it, but this just ain't so. Ninety percent of habitual smokers started as kids, and according to the non-partisan Legislative Analyst Office, if Prop 86 passes, 700,000 fewer children will start smoking. The bottom line - Prop 86will save lives. I've been working on this thing for the past year and if it passes, I'll have something to do in '07, so you'd better Vote YES.

Prop 87 - This initiative would make California the last major oil producing state to have an oil severance tax (yes those tax-and-spend liberals from Texas and Oklahoma already have one). It would raise about $4 billion annually to do research on and production of alternative fuels. 87 is opposed by Chevron. Gore and Clinton are stumping for it. Are you on the side of the terrorists? Vote YES.

Prop 88 - This would impose a $50 per parcel tax on property to provide about $450 million in new funds for K-12 schools. I don't mind us shelling out the dough, since, as you know, children are the future. BUT this proposal sends the money to the wrong place - rich kids, instead of those most in need. Vote NO.

Prop 90 - Out of state wealthy interests have put the most damaging land use initiative on the ballot since Prop 13. If passed, this would strictly limit the use of eminent domain by local governments. Translation: Affordable housing and the environment would be totally screwed. NO NO NO.