November 4, 2008 ELECTION
RECOMMENDATIONS
President
CALIFORNIA BALLOT INITIATIVES
Proposition 1A -- The Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act
OPPOSE
“Proposition 1A will guarantee higher mandated taxpayer funding. Increased mandated spending is one of the main reasons why California is currently facing a $16 billion budget deficit.”
With the State of California facing a budget crisis, now is not the time to add another $20 billion in state debt and interest. The state already has over $100 BILLION DOLLARS in voter-approved bonds and our bond rating is already among the worst in the nation and this could lower it even further.
Proposition 2 -- Treatment of Farm Animals. Statute.
SUPPORT
“Proposition 2 is a moderate measure that stops cruel and inhumane treatment of animals. Voting YES on Proposition 2 prevents animal cruelty, promotes food safety, supports family farmers and protects the environment.”
Proposition 2 is a reasonable and common-sense reform. It provides ample time—until 2015—for factory farms using these severe confinement methods to shift to more humane practices. Arizona, Colorado, Florida, and Oregon have passed similar laws. The Humane Society of the United States, the ASPCA, hundreds of California veterinarians, including the California Veterinary Medical Association; California family farmers; the Center for Food Safety, the Consumer Federation of America, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, and many others support Proposition 2.
Proposition 3 -- Children’s Hospital Bond Act. Grant Program. Statute.
OPPOSE
“This measure authorizes the state to sell $980 million in general obligation bonds for capital improvement projects at children’s hospitals. At a time when the state of California is facing a fiscal crisis, we cannot afford additional bond debt.”
Proposition 61, which voters approved at the November 2004 statewide general election, authorized the sale of $750 million in general obligation bonds to provide funding for children’s hospitals. The eligibility criteria for hospitals to receive funds under Proposition 61 is the same under this measure. As of June 1, 2008, about $403 million of the funds from Proposition 61 had been awarded to eligible hospitals. So when $347 million hasn’t been used yet, why do we need another bond measure?
Proposition 4 -- Waiting Period and Parental Notification Before Termination of Minor's Pregnancy. Constitutional Amendment.
SUPPORT
“Parental involvement laws have been shown to reduce minor girls’ pregnancy and abortion rates, as well as their rates of sexually transmitted disease—outcomes that all Californians would agree are beneficial to young girls.”
Proposition 4 will require a doctor to notify at least one adult family member before performing an abortion on an under-18-year-old girl. Medical professionals know that a young person is safer when a parent or family member is informed of her medical situation. Someone who knows the girl and cares about her future can help her understand all her options, obtain competent care, and work through the problems that led her into the situation to begin with.
Proposition 5 -- Nonviolent Offenders. Sentencing, Parole and Rehabilitation. Statute.
OPPOSE
“Proposition 5 shortens parole for methamphetamine dealers and other drug felons from 3 years to just 6 months. Dumping 45,000 criminals out of our prisons and into our communities through early release and shortened parole will not “save” money in the prison system—but it will increase crime.”
Proposition 5 undermines successful rehabilitation. Current rehabilitation and drug courts are set up with defined goals and consequences – these two elements are critical to effective rehabilitation efforts. California law enforcement, including police chiefs and county prosecutors statewide, overwhelmingly oppose Proposition 5 because they know it is just a veiled attempt to dramatically slash parole time for convicted drug criminals.
Proposition 6 -- Criminal Penalties and Laws. Public Safety Funding. Statute.
SUPPORT
“Proposition 6 is a comprehensive anti-gang and crime reduction measure that will bring more cops and increased safety to our streets and greater efficiency and accountability to public safety programs and agencies that spend taxpayer money.”
Proposition 6 creates an early intervention accountability commission to evaluate early intervention and rehabilitation programs for gangs to emphasize what programs are effectively spending public funds, and what programs are wasting tax dollars so that they can be eliminated. Taxpayers deserve this type of accountability. It also prohibits illegal immigrants, who are arrested for violent felonies or gang crimes, from being released on bail or on their own recognizance without a judicial hearing.
Proposition 7 -- Renewable Energy Statute.
OPPOSE
“I oppose Proposition 7 because it will cost us hundreds of millions of dollars in higher electricity and taxpayer costs, will not achieve its goals, and will stall efforts to expand our renewable energy portfolio.”
California leads the nation with clean energy standards requiring utilities to significantly increase renewable power. Prop. 7 jeopardizes this progress by NOT including new, clean, and reliable sources of energy like advanced nuclear, next generation coal and hydroelectric power. The last thing we should be doing is discouraging American energy production and pin our hopes to one technology.
Proposition 8 -- Limit on Marriage. Constitutional Amendment.
SUPPORT
“In 2000, over 61% of Californians (including this Congressman) voted to reaffirm the traditional definition of marriage as only between a man and a woman (Proposition 22). However, because this language wasn’t put into the California Constitution, four activist judges from San Francisco wrongly overturned the people’s vote in a closely divided 4-3 decision. Proposition 8 reverses the court’s decision by restoring the definition of marriage as a man and a woman in the state Constitution.”
The entire text of Proposition 8 is as follows: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in California." It’s not an attack on the gay lifestyle. Proposition 8 doesn’t take away any rights or benefits from gays or lesbians in domestic partnerships. Under California law, “domestic partners shall have the same rights, protections and benefits” as married spouses. (Family Code §297.5.) There are no exceptions. Proposition 8 will not change this.
Proposition 9 -- Victims' Rights and Protection Act of 2008, also known as Marsy's Law or "Nicholas's Law.”
SUPPORT
“Proposition 9 will be the most comprehensive ‘Victim’s Bill of Rights’ in any state in the nation. Victims will have meaningful and enforceable rights, including notification to victim and opportunity for input during phases of criminal justice process, including bail, pleas, sentencing and parole.”
Twenty-six years ago, President Reagan’s Task Force on Victims of Crime, calling the neglect of crime victims a “national disgrace,” proposed a constitutional amendment to secure their formal rights. Today, that disgrace persists in courtrooms across the nation. Innocent victims, battered women, abused children, and the loved ones of the murdered still may not be told when their case is being heard. They can be excluded from the courtroom even when the defendant and his friends may be present. Proposition 9 will set the standard for the rights to justice and due process for crime victims.
Proposition 10 -- ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES AND RENEWABLE ENERGY. BONDS. INITIATIVE STATUTE.
OPPOSE
“This well-concealed tilt to one fuel will chiefly benefit Proposition 10’s sponsor, Texas oil billionaire T. Boone Pickens. His company is a major supplier of natural gas for vehicles. I oppose Proposition 10 because it would take nearly $10 BILLION OF YOUR TAX DOLLARS to subsidize trucks and large vehicles so that they can run on natural gas sold by companies – you guessed it -- like the one owned by T. Boone Pickens.”
We need to be encouraging the development of all forms of alternative energy including nuclear, ethanol, methanol, bio-fuels, and liquid coal technology. We should not make any one technology a winner over another. We should let all forms of renewable energy compete and not spend tax dollars to subsidize one source of energy over all others.
Proposition 11 -- Redistricting. Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
SUPPORT
“The current system where politicians draw their own districts is rigged to make sure they get reelected. Prop. 11 will put voters back in charge and make it easier to vote them out of office if they’re not doing their job.”
Prop. 11 isn't perfect (I’m disappointed it doesn’t include Congressional districts), but this redistricting measure is a step in the right direction. Proposition 11 will create a 14-member independent citizen commission to redraw state legislative district lines based on strict non-partisan rules. Unlike the current process, Proposition 11 will ensure that the redistricting process is open and transparent and will respect existing city and county boundaries and communities.
Proposition 12 -- VETERANS’ BOND ACT OF 2008.
SUPPORT
“The Cal-Vet Home Loan Program helps veterans to purchase homes in California at no expense to taxpayers. Voter approved bonds finance the Program and are repaid, along with all program costs, by the loan holders. This measure would replenish the program’s funding.”
Proposition 12 authorizes $900 million in bonds to the 87-year-old program that provides low-interest home loans to California veterans. The bond sale would allow about 3,600 additional veterans to purchase homes. Under the program, the California Department of Veterans Affairs uses the bond funds to purchase homes and then resells them to veterans. Monthly payments cover all costs of the program, including bond principal and interest. Both houses of the State Legislature unanimously passed SB 1572 (Veterans' Bond Act of 2008).
LOCAL INITIATIVES
COUNTY of ORANGE
MEASURE J – Pension Reform
SUPPORT
“Measure J gives voters the final say over future pension increases for County of Orange elected officials and employees. It eliminates the backroom deals that created the county's current pension fund debt.”
Measure J would require voter approval of certain increases in retirement benefits for County employees and officials who are in the County retirement system. Specifically, the measure provides that the County Board of Supervisors may not take any action that would increase retirement benefits of any County employee, legislative officer or elected official without first obtaining voter approval.
CITY OF TUSTIN
MEASURE L – Tustin Unified School District $95 Million Bond
OPPOSE
“Six years ago, TUSD was given $80 million dollars by the taxpayers. The Board promised they would fix all of our schools but, before they have spent all that money, they are asking for $95 million more for a total of $175 million in debt plus millions more in interest. The debt on these bonds wouldn't be paid off until 2035, outliving the proposed repairs.”
TUSD can educate our children very well without adding to your
property taxes. Under Proposition 98, they already receive a guarantee that they will never receive less money from the State than the previous year, a guarantee that no other local government receives.
CITY OF IRVINE
MEASURE R – Orange County Great Park Ratification and Implementation Act
OPPOSE
“Measure R lays the ground work for sales taxes, utility taxes, transit occupancy taxes, gas taxes, vehicle license fees, franchise taxes, property taxes and documentary transfer taxes “to be available” to help pay for the Great Park’s operation and maintenance.”
The “impartial analysis” states that City General Funds “should not” be used for the Great Park. “Should not” instead of “shall not” leaves current and future Irvine city councils the wiggle room needed to use General Fund money to offset projected Great Park deficits. This is supposed to be the ORANGE COUNTY Great Park, not the Irvine Great Park. Irvine taxpayers should not be on the hook for cost overruns.
CITY COUNCIL
City of Newport Beach
Steve Rosansky – (District 2)
Keith Curry – (District 7)
City of Irvine
Christina Shea (Mayor)
Dr. Steven Choi (City Council)
City of Tustin
Mayor Jerry Amante
Jeff Thomas
John Neilsen
City of Laguna Niguel
Mayor Paul Glaab
Councilman Gary Capata
Joe Brown
David Weiss
City of Dana Point
Lou Penrose AKA Luigi Rossetti Jr.
Scott Schoeffel
City of Laguna Hills
Mayor Alan Songstad
Mayor Pro-Tem Joel Lautenschleger
City of Lake Forest
Mayor Mark Tettemer
City of Laguna Beach
Mayor Pro-Tem Cheryl Kinsman
City of San Juan Capistrano
Councilman Sam Allevato
Councilman Joe Soto
City of Costa Mesa
Gary Monahan
Jim Righeimer
CA STATE REPRESENTATIVES
Senate District 35 – TOM HARMAN
Assembly District 70 – CHUCK DEVORE
Assembly District 73 – DIANE HARKEY
SPECIAL DISTRICTS
South Orange County Community College District
Tom Fuentes (Area 6)
John Williams (Area 7)
South Coast Water District:
Ingrid McGuire
Richard Runge
