We Also Vote on What?

On February 5, we get to vote on our Presidential nominee, we get to vote on where to put the White Elephant, AND we get to vote on a few propositions.

I usually trust the California Republican Assembly's take on the issues, but I also tend to cross-check them with the Lincoln Club of Orange County's, since I trust the brains in that group too.

After doing all that, I go to Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, and then "Blindly" follow his recommendations...

They agree on most everything except for the Indian Gaming Propositions (94, 95, 96, 97), interestingly enough.

We've probably all seen the commercials on TV. We know that Governor Arnold is for them, we know that Race Tracks are against them.

After reading their explanations, I tend to agree with the California Republican Assembly's, and Assemblyman DeVore's, take on the Indian Gaming, but I'm sure I'll hear more about it in the next two weeks.

Anyway here they are...

Proposition 91– Transportation Funding
CRA - Yes - This more firmly dedicates gasoline sales taxes to transportation projects.

Lincoln Club - Yes - The Lincoln Club voted to support Proposition 91 before it became clear that the measure was no longer needed. We have not amended our position because it makes no difference whether the proposition passes or fails based on the previous passage of Proposition 1A in 2006.

Assemblyman DeVore - No - The legislature passed a law that caused this measure’s sponsors to withdraw their support.

Proposition 92 – Community Colleges Funding, Governance, Fees - No
CRA - This is "ballot box budgeting" at its worst. It would irresponsibly reduce community college tuition, regardless of need, while permanently increasing taxpayer subsidies.

Lincoln Club - The measure, which is being supported by the California Federation of Teachers and the Community College League of California, but opposed by the California Teacher Association, would set aside more funding for community colleges, set a maximum per-unit cost of $15, and limits future unit cost increases by 10%. It also creates a new state-run bureaucracy to centralize community colleges, run by a highly paid Board of Directors. The estimated costs of the measure are: $135 million in the first year, $275 million in the second year, and $470 million in future years. This measure is opposed by the California Chamber of Commerce and all major tax groups like the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.

Assemblyman DeVore - This proposition is another in a series of attempts to put state spending on autopilot.

Proposition 93 – State Legislative Term Limits - No!
CRA- This is phony term limits reform designed to keep Democrat leaders in office longer. Whether you support term limits or hate them, this proposition is a fraud and it should be defeated.

Lincoln Club - While this initiative would limit the net-time legislators can serve from 14 to 12 years, this measure is only being proposed to extend the time that certain Democratic leaders can stay in their respective offices. This initiative is wholly supported and funded by Big Labor and Democratic interest groups. Many Republicans are opposed to it, and Republicans have nothing to gain by supporting it.

Assemblyman DeVore - The best term limit is the voters saying “no.” For this we need fair and competitive districts, not the incumbent-safe gerrymandered districts we now have. If this measure passes, most politicians will have only one competitive election in 12 years – their first primary.

Proposition 94,95,96,97 - Indian Gaming Compacts
CRA - Yes - The referendum would ratify the compact with the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Mission Indians, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. Indian gaming has been terrible for California, but defeating this compact will not solve that problem or improve things in any way. This compact is the best possible deal that taxpayers can get out of the current Legislature. Union thugs oppose this compact because it does not achieve their goal of forcing casino workers to pay union dues without their consent. The issue here is union politics, not Indian gaming.

Lincoln Club - No -

These four initiatives would ratify the compacts that the governor reached with the four largest tribes in the state. It would allow the tribes to significantly expand their gambling operations and add 17,000 slot machines. It would also require the tribes to pay an estimated $130 million into the general fund annually.

The Club agrees with opponents of the measures, including the Orange County Taxpayers Association, which have argued that monopolies and unfair taxation are bad for taxpayers and bad for business. These compacts make a bad deal worse. The compact allows the Indians themselves, as opposed to independent auditors, to perform the audits that determine the state's fair share of proceeds.

Assemblyman DeVore - Yes - These propositions ratify negotiated compacts allowing four California tribes to expand their casinos. I voted for them in the Assembly. While I’m not a big fan of gambling, the people opposing this are labor unions, competing gambling enterprises, and Las Vegas interests.