Proposition 30. Temporary Taxes to Fund Education. Guaranteed Local Public Safety Funding. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
Position: YES
Prop 30 is the result of a historic compromise between the Restore California Coalition and Governor Jerry Brown, the governor had to negotiate directly with a coalition of community groups. This is a first step in our fight to amend Prop 13, approved in 1978 and which created tax loopholes allowing corporations to get away with not paying their fair share. Prop 30 temporarily increases taxes for those who earn over $250,000 and raises sales tax by a quarter-cent. It is expected to raise $6.8-$9 billion in the first year, and $5.4 billion to $7.6 billion the following years. Income tax expires in 7 years, sales tax in four. Creates a protected education account, allocating 89% to K-12 and 11% to community colleges. 90% of the revenue comes from the top 1% and it brings desperately needed income to our schools, clinics, and other vital services.
Supporters:
AFSCME, CFT, CTA, CFA,CSEA, AFT, SEIU State Council, UDW, CA Labor Federation, University of California Regents, Reclaim CA’s Future, CA League of Women Voters, CA Democratic Party.
Opponents:
Californians for Reforms and Jobs, Not Taxes Committee, The National Federation of Independent Business/California, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, and the Small Business Action Committee.
Proposition 31. State Budget. State and Local Government. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
Position: No
*For analysis and a list of opponents & supporters, please visit: www.cjjc.org
Proposition 32. Prohibits Political Contributions by Payroll Deduction. Prohibitions on Contributions to Candidates. Initiative Statute.
Position: No
Prop 32 is an attack on unions. It prohibits unions from using dues collected from payroll deductions for political purposes. It takes away the power of workers to impact state and local political fights and destroys a major part of the movement’s fundraising infrastructure. Prop 32 restricts unions and some corps. from making contributions to candidates; but offers quite a giveaway to several types of corps like Sole Proprietorships, Real Estate Investment Trusts, LLCs, LLPs, who are exempted from these restrictions and will still be able to contribute unlimited amounts to campaigns. Plus, no there are NO restrictions on contributions from secret donors or PACs. Corporations shouldn’t be able to put money into politics if Unions can’t. Enforcing this will cost several hundred thousand dollars annually with some of the cost being offset by payments of fines.
Supporters:
Howard Jarvis Tax payer Association, Nat’l Federation of Independent Business/California, Gloria Romero, Charles Munger, Thomas Siebel.
Opponents:
CA Common Cause, League of Women Voters, Public Citizen, CA Democratic Party, CA Labor Federation, CTA, CSEA, SEIU State Council, SEIU Local 1000, Firefighters.
Proposition 33. Changes Law to Allow Auto Insurance Companies to Set Prices Based on a Driver’s History of Insurance Coverage. Initiative Statute.
Position: NO
*For analysis and a list of opponents & supporters, please visit: www.cjjc.org
Proposition 34. Death Penalty Repeal. Initiative Statute.
Recommendation: YES
Prop 34 would finally put an end to the death penalty in California. People who had already been sentenced to death, will have their sentences replaced with life sentences without the possibility of parole. Prop 34 requires people found guilty of murder to work while in prison, and their wages would go towards victims as reparations. It creates a $100 million fund to help solve murder and rape cases. The State and counties could save tens of millions of dollars annually.
Supporters:
ACLU of CA, Amnesty International, CA Democratic Party, Catholic Bishops of California, California NAACP, California League of Women Voters, CA Labor Federation, SAFE CA.
Opponents: Peace Officers Assoc., Sacramento County Deputy Sheriff’s Assoc., Sacramento Police Officers Assoc.
Proposition 35. Human Trafficking Penalties, Sex Offender Registration Initiative Statute
Position: No
Prop 35 claims to help victims of human trafficking and the sexually exploited but it really does neither and will result in the further criminalization of immigrants and communities of color. This law doesn’t address the economic crisis and cuts to welfare, housing and other resources which are forcing increasing numbers of young people, particularly young mothers, into the sex industry to survive., nor does it help young people get out of prostitution or escape from exploitation and violence. Trafficking is not about prostitution but about poverty, immigration and asylum. Existing laws cover all these crimes that qualify as Human Trafficking (e.g. forced labor, abduction and rape) and could be used to prosecute the assailants of women and children, whatever work they are being forced into.
Supporters:
Chris Kelly (contributed $1,860,000), Peace Officers Association, Women’s Foundation, Planned Parenthood, NOW, Crime Victims United of California, Californians Against Slavery. CA Democratic Party, CA Labor Federation.
Opponents:
Global Women’s Strike, The International Prostitutes Collective
Proposition 36. Three Strikes Law. Sentencing for Repeat Felony Offenders. Initiative Statute.
Position: YES
Prop 36 changes California’s racist three strikes law by removing life sentencing if the third strike wasn’t serious or violent. People who are already serving life sentences because of a third strike could be released or given a lighter sentence with a judge’s approval. Life sentences would still apply if previous convictions were for rape, murder, or child molestation. This could save the state up to $100 million a year in prison and parole expenses.
Supporters:
Stanford University Professor David Mills, George Soros, NAACP, CA Democratic Party, CA Labor Federation
Opponents:
Mike Reynolds (wrote the language for California’s “Three Strikes” Law).
Proposition 37. Genetically Engineered Foods. Mandatory Labeling. Initiative Statute.
Position: YES
*For analysis and a list of opponents & supporters, please visit: www.cjjc.org
Proposition 38. Tax for Education and Early Childhood Programs. Initiative Statute.
Position: No
*For analysis and a list of opponents & supporters, please visit: www.cjjc.org
Proposition 39. Tax Treatment for Multi-state Businesses. Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Funding. Initiative Statute.
Recommendation: YES
*For analysis and a list of opponents & supporters, please visit: www.cjjc.org