Hehe.... My mom asked me which props to vote for...

[LiberalManiacfromOC]

I don't remember what I said but I certainly remember YES on 71 (stem cell research)

[noamnety]

1. I want to know this too.

No on Proposal 64 (Proponents of 64 are the major polluters who want to keep getting away with polluting.)
Yes on Proposal 66
Yes on Proposal 71 (The CA Democratic Party has endorsed Prop 71 so as to save lives)
Yes on Proposal 72 (Endorsed by League of Women Voters)

What else? I'm trying to put this together and some people are already asking me about CA. http://ideamouth.com/votingguide.htm

[AP]

2. Here are the sate Dem party's positions (with my interpretaion of reason):

Proposition 1A. Protection of Local Government Revenues -- State of California
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.

Put on ballot by the Legislature

SUPPORT (because it decentralizes political power, and because it forces the state to reimburse local governments with progressively accumulated tax (from state income tax revenues) when the state reduces local governments tax revenues which come from regressively taxed sources -- the car tax and the uniform sales tax and property tax).


Proposition 59. Public Records, Open Meetings -- State of California (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?

Put on ballot by the Legislature

SUPPORT (because it creates a constitutional right to open records, which means that when the state wants to avoid that obligation, they have to meet a higher legal burden to prove the need for privacy, however, not that this doesn't create any state obligation to provide information to the public -- it just means they can't get in the way).


Proposition 60. Election Rights of Political Parties -- 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?

Put on ballot by the Legislature

SUPPORT (because it's more democratic -- but it does increase the number of people who appear on the ballot, which ultimately tends to help the most powerful parties because it difuses third party support among too many small parties).


Proposition 60A. Surplus Property -- State of California (Legislative Constitutional Amendment)
Shall the sale proceeds of most surplus state property pay off specified bonds?
Put on ballot by the Legislature

SUPPORT (because it requires the money from these sales to go to paying down the bonds which were sold recently to cover deficit, and it's smart to pay down your debt).


Proposition 61. Children's Hospital Projects. Grant Program -- State of California (Bond Act. Initiative Statute)
Shall $750 million general obligation bonds be authorized for grants to eligible children's hospitals for construction, expansion, remodeling, renovation, furnishing and equipping children's hospitals?
Put on ballot by petition signatures

SUPPORT (because it's an important investment in the future -- it's an investment into the health of California's children).


Proposition 62. Elections. Primaries -- State of California (Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute)
Should primary elections be structured so that voters may vote for any state or federal candidate regardless of party registration of voter or candidate? The two primary-election candidates receiving most votes for an office, whether they are candidates with "no party" or members of same or different party, would be listed on general election ballot. Exempts presidential nominations.
Put on ballot by petition signatures

OPPOSE (because open primaries SUCK ASS! If the Republican race isn't competitive they vote to sabotage the more liberal candidate in the Democratic race, and it's often the case that the places which can support the most liberal candidates will have Republicans willing and able to do this because there's nothing worth supporting on their own ticket.)


Proposition 63. Mental Health Services Expansion, Funding. Tax on Personal Incomes above $1 Million -- State of California (Initiative Statute)
Should a 1% tax on taxable personal income above $1 million to fund expanded health services for mentally ill children, adults, seniors be established?
Put on ballot by petition signatures

SUPPORT (because we are wasting way to much human capital by not treating easy to treat mental problems).


Proposition 64. Limit on Private Enforcement of Unfair Business Competition Laws -- State of California (Initiative Statute)
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.
Put on ballot by petition signatures

OPPOSE (because it's just a sad attempt to protect businesses from legitimate law suits -- in the UK private citizens are allowed to bring CRIMINAL actions and the least we can do in the US is allow private citizens to bring civil actions without too much trouble).


Proposition 65. Local Government Funds, Revenues. State Mandates -- State of California (Initiative Constitutional Amendment)
Should reduction of local fee/tax revenues require voter approval? Permits suspension of state mandate if no state reimbursement to local government within 180 days after obligation determined.
Put on ballot by petition signatures

NEUTRAL (who can say? it's more democratic but that can also mean that choices like this will really be made by the media).


Proposition 66. Limitations on "Three Strikes" Law. Sex Crimes. Punishment -- State of California (Initiative Statute)
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.
Put on ballot by petition signatures

SUPPORT (because it makes too much sense).


Proposition 67. Emergency Medical Services. Funding. Telephone Surcharge -- State of California (Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute)
Should the telephone surcharge be increased and other funds for emergency room physicians, hospital emergency rooms, community clinics, emergency personnel training/equipment, and 911 telephone system be allocated?
Put on ballot petition signatures

OPPOSE (just another sales tax that will hurt the middle class worse than the rich).


Proposition 68. Non-Tribal Commercial Gambling Expansion. Tribal Gaming Compact Amendments. Revenues, Tax Exemptions -- State of California (Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute)
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.
Put on ballot by petition signatures

OPPOSE (because it's just a way to increase gambling activity and shift more of it to private non-Indian companies).


Proposition 69. DNA Samples. Collection. Database. Funding -- State of California (Initiative Statute)
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.
Put on ballot by petition signatures

OPPOSE (because it allows DNA collection from people not even convicted of a crime and because it's clearly a profit-guarantee for the companies which do this testing).


Proposition 70. Tribal Gaming Compacts. Exclusive Gaming Rights. Contributions to State -- State of California (Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute)
Upon tribe's request, should the Governor be required to execute a 99-year compact? Tribes contribute percentage of net gaming income to state funds, in exchange for expanded, exclusive tribal casino gaming.
Put on ballot by petition signatures

OPPOSE (for the same reasons as the other Gaming proposition).


Proposition 71. Stem Cell Research. Funding. Bonds -- State of California (Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute)
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.
Put on ballot by petition signatures

SUPPORT (because the long term benefits are so great).


Proposition 72. Health Care Coverage Requirements -- State of California (Referendum)
Should legislation requiring health care coverage for employees, as specified, working for large and medium employers be approved
Put on ballot by petition signatures

SUPPORT (because the social and economic benefits are so broad and so great).

Legislative Analysis: http://www.lao.ca.gov/ballot_source/Propositions.aspx

State Party endorsements: http://www.cadem.org/site/pp.asp?c=fvLRK7O3E&b=187564

More Info: http://www.smartvoter.org/ca/alm/