ARTICLE
While voters have plenty of decisions to make before the election this November, including who they would like the nation's next president to be, Californians will also vote on 17 propositions encompassing major topics of debate within the state. Thanks to the state’s longstanding tradition of direct democracy, every California voter becomes a lawmaker at the ballot box. California will see one of its largest ballots in recent years; up for a vote are issues ranging from legalizing recreational cannabis, ending the death penalty or speeding up the process, ban of plastic bags and cap of prescription drug costs. Not since 2000 have Californians been asked to wade through so many propositions. This year’s proliferation of propositions springs from a 2011 reform. The legislature moved all statewide propositions to the general election, rather than primaries. It makes sense to have the greatest number of voters decide statewide questions, but it has generated pent-up demand for the November election. To certify measures for the California ballot: 365,880 signatures for an initiative and 585,407 for a constitutional amendment, in a state with over 18 million registered voters. A robust signature-gathering industry makes qualifying propositions a matter of raising several million dollars. The Redondo Beach Government Relations Committee reviewed and discussed the following 17 ballot propositions and took the following positions. SUPPORT Proposition 51: $9 billion in bonds for education and schools Proposition 52: Voter approval of changes to the hospital fee program Proposition 54: Conditions under which legislative bills can be passed OPPOSE Proposition 53: Revenue Bonds Proposition 55: Personal income tax increases on incomes over $250,000 Proposition 61: State Prescription Drug Purchases. NO POSITION Proposition 56: Increase the cigarette tax by $2 per pack Proposition 57: Criminal Sentences. Allows parole consideration for persons convicted of nonviolent felonies upon completion of full prison term for primary offense, as defined. Proposition 58: Bilingual education in public schools Proposition 59: State's position on Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission Proposition 60: Require the use of condoms in pornographic films Proposition 62: Death Penalty. Initiative Statute. Proposition 63: Background checks for ammunition purchases Proposition 64: Marijuana Legalization. Initiative Statute. Proposition 65: Funds from grocery and retail carry-out bags redirected to Wildlife Conservation Fund Proposition 66 would change the death penalty procedure to speed up the appeals process Proposition 67 is approved by the state's voters, it would ratify Senate Bill 270, prohibiting large grocery stores and pharmacies from providing plastic single-use carryout bags LA County Ballot Measures OPPOSE - Measure M While at the county level voters will be asked to consider Measure M. The ballot measure would add a half-cent sales tax in 2017 and continue the current half-cent Measure R tax after it expires in 2039. The two would then combine for one cent, which would continue until voters decide to end it. If passed on November 8, 2016, the ballot measure would help fund Metro’s Long Range Transportation Plan in the following areas: new transit and highway projects; services for seniors, students and the disabled; bus and rail operations; bicycle and pedestrian connections; ongoing system maintenance and repair; and local street improvements. Measure M is opposed by many South Bay cities because it would generate more tax revenue than they would get back through transit investment and funds for local road repairs. The Chamber’s Board of Directors voted to Oppose Measure M for the greater good of transportation related projects in the County of Los Angeles. OPPOSE - Safe, Clean Neighborhood Parks and Beaches Measure of 2016 Finally, the Government Relations Committee voted to Oppose the Safe, Clean Neighborhood Parks and Beaches Measure of 2016. This measures would replace funding under Proposition A passed over 20 years ago and that is set to expire in 2019. The measure would add a parcel tax of one-and-a-half cent per square foot of developed property. However, the funding formula, would place the majority of the cost on business properties, because they typically have higher square footage.
While voters have plenty of decisions to make before the election this November, including who they would like the nation's next president to be, Californians will also vote on 17 propositions encompassing major topics of debate within the state. Thanks to the state’s longstanding tradition of direct democracy, every California voter becomes a lawmaker at the ballot box. California will see one of its largest ballots in recent years; up for a vote are issues ranging from legalizing recreational cannabis, ending the death penalty or speeding up the process, ban of plastic bags and cap of prescription drug costs. Not since 2000 have Californians been asked to wade through so many propositions.
This year’s proliferation of propositions springs from a 2011 reform. The legislature moved all statewide propositions to the general election, rather than primaries. It makes sense to have the greatest number of voters decide statewide questions, but it has generated pent-up demand for the November election.
To certify measures for the California ballot: 365,880 signatures for an initiative and 585,407 for a constitutional amendment, in a state with over 18 million registered voters. A robust signature-gathering industry makes qualifying propositions a matter of raising several million dollars.
The Redondo Beach Government Relations Committee reviewed and discussed the following 17 ballot propositions and took the following positions.
SUPPORT
Proposition 51: $9 billion in bonds for education and schools
Proposition 52: Voter approval of changes to the hospital fee program
Proposition 54: Conditions under which legislative bills can be passed
OPPOSE
Proposition 53: Revenue Bonds
Proposition 55: Personal income tax increases on incomes over $250,000
Proposition 61: State Prescription Drug Purchases.
NO POSITION
Proposition 56: Increase the cigarette tax by $2 per pack Proposition 57: Criminal Sentences. Allows parole consideration for persons convicted of nonviolent felonies upon completion of full prison term for primary offense, as defined. Proposition 58: Bilingual education in public schools
Proposition 59: State's position on Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission
Proposition 60: Require the use of condoms in pornographic films Proposition 62: Death Penalty. Initiative Statute. Proposition 63: Background checks for ammunition purchases Proposition 64: Marijuana Legalization. Initiative Statute. Proposition 65: Funds from grocery and retail carry-out bags redirected to Wildlife Conservation Fund
Proposition 66 would change the death penalty procedure to speed up the appeals process
Proposition 67 is approved by the state's voters, it would ratify Senate Bill 270, prohibiting large grocery stores and pharmacies from providing plastic single-use carryout bags
LA County Ballot Measures
OPPOSE - Measure M
While at the county level voters will be asked to consider Measure M. The ballot measure would add a half-cent sales tax in 2017 and continue the current half-cent Measure R tax after it expires in 2039. The two would then combine for one cent, which would continue until voters decide to end it. If passed on November 8, 2016, the ballot measure would help fund Metro’s Long Range Transportation Plan in the following areas: new transit and highway projects; services for seniors, students and the disabled; bus and rail operations; bicycle and pedestrian connections; ongoing system maintenance and repair; and local street improvements.
Measure M is opposed by many South Bay cities because it would generate more tax revenue than they would get back through transit investment and funds for local road repairs. The Chamber’s Board of Directors voted to Oppose Measure M for the greater good of transportation related projects in the County of Los Angeles.
OPPOSE - Safe, Clean Neighborhood Parks and Beaches Measure of 2016
Finally, the Government Relations Committee voted to Oppose the Safe, Clean Neighborhood Parks and Beaches Measure of 2016. This measures would replace funding under Proposition A passed over 20 years ago and that is set to expire in 2019. The measure would add a parcel tax of one-and-a-half cent per square foot of developed property. However, the funding formula, would place the majority of the cost on business properties, because they typically have higher square footage.