By Fran Freedle
Very important dates for California voters:
May 8 - Absentee ballots can be sent to mail-ballot precincts and absentee voters
May 24 – Last day you can register before the June Primary
June 1 – Last day to apply for absentee ballot by mail
June 8 – Primary Election Day
There are 5 propositions on the June ballot, with 2 already qualified for the November General Election. A total of 80 initiatives have been cleared by the Secretary of State for circulation.
Statewide initiatives require 433,971 valid signatures of registered voters on properly executed petitions. They must follow a rigorous process that takes many months with up to 5 months of signature gathering.
There are many questionable actions related to the naming of ballot initiatives. Assemblyman Dan Logue has worked very hard to get a proper name on the California Jobs Initiative to suspend California’s version of the Federal Cap and Trade/Tax that is working toward the November 2010 ballot. The Attorney General’s title is “Suspends Air Pollution Control Laws Requiring Major Polluters to Report and Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions That Cause Global Warming Until Unemployment Drops Below Specified Level for Full Year.”
Here is a brief summary of the propositions and recommendations for the June 8 ballot:
The title of this proposition obfuscates its purpose. There will not be greater participation while it promotes less representation. This proposition is on the ballot because of a backdoor budget vote trade, and Democrats and Republicans actually agree, this is not a good idea. This would create a “top two” primary election and prohibits Central Committee and party nomination for candidates. A NO vote is recommended.
Proposition 15: California Fair Elections Act. This is another proposition with a cleverly disguised title. It repeals the ban on public funding of political campaigns and creates a system to fund the 2014 and 2018 Secretary of State campaigns. A lobby fee of $700 will generate about $6 million every 4 years. As a way in the back door to publicly funded campaigns, the Legislature could vote to extend this act to all statewide offices at any time. A NO vote is recommended.
Proposition 16: “Requires 2/3 voter approval for local public electricity providers” Local government would have to receive 2/3-voter approval before they use public money or issue bonds to go into the electricity business. A YES vote is recommended.
Very important dates for California voters:
May 8 - Absentee ballots can be sent to mail-ballot precincts and absentee voters
May 24 – Last day you can register before the June Primary
June 1 – Last day to apply for absentee ballot by mail
June 8 – Primary Election Day
There are 5 propositions on the June ballot, with 2 already qualified for the November General Election. A total of 80 initiatives have been cleared by the Secretary of State for circulation.
Statewide initiatives require 433,971 valid signatures of registered voters on properly executed petitions. They must follow a rigorous process that takes many months with up to 5 months of signature gathering.
There are many questionable actions related to the naming of ballot initiatives. Assemblyman Dan Logue has worked very hard to get a proper name on the California Jobs Initiative to suspend California’s version of the Federal Cap and Trade/Tax that is working toward the November 2010 ballot. The Attorney General’s title is “Suspends Air Pollution Control Laws Requiring Major Polluters to Report and Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions That Cause Global Warming Until Unemployment Drops Below Specified Level for Full Year.”
Here is a brief summary of the propositions and recommendations for the June 8 ballot:
Proposition 13: “Property tax relief for seismic retrofits” – this constitutional change will protect home and business owners from new property taxes if they decide to seismically retrofit their property. A YES vote is recommended.
Proposition 14: Primary election Process Reform. Greater Participation in Elections.The title of this proposition obfuscates its purpose. There will not be greater participation while it promotes less representation. This proposition is on the ballot because of a backdoor budget vote trade, and Democrats and Republicans actually agree, this is not a good idea. This would create a “top two” primary election and prohibits Central Committee and party nomination for candidates. A NO vote is recommended.
Proposition 15: California Fair Elections Act. This is another proposition with a cleverly disguised title. It repeals the ban on public funding of political campaigns and creates a system to fund the 2014 and 2018 Secretary of State campaigns. A lobby fee of $700 will generate about $6 million every 4 years. As a way in the back door to publicly funded campaigns, the Legislature could vote to extend this act to all statewide offices at any time. A NO vote is recommended.
Proposition 16: “Requires 2/3 voter approval for local public electricity providers” Local government would have to receive 2/3-voter approval before they use public money or issue bonds to go into the electricity business. A YES vote is recommended.
Proposition 17: “Drivers transfer of insurance discounts” This proposition allows good drivers with continuous coverage to keep their discounted insurance rate if they choose to switch insurance companies. This could save up to $250 by eliminating the surcharge car owners face when they change to another insurance company. A YES vote is recommended.
Fran Freedle is the Nevada County Republican Women's Federated Legislative Chairman