ballot propositions

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Prop 26 and Its Potential Effect on UC

Byuclafaculty

Proposition 26 on the November ballot would require a 2/3 vote in the legislature for state imposition of various “fees.” It applies a similar restriction to local fees. A 2/3 vote of the electorate would apply to such fees at the local level. At the moment, there is a distinction made between a “tax” (which is subject to a 2/3 vote) and a fee. During budget crises, governments in California have tended to raise fees, which escape the 2/3 requirement, since tax raising is more difficult. Essentially, Prop 26 tightens up the definition of fee, putting more of them under…

November 2010 Ballot Sing-A-Long

Byuclafaculty

There will be quite a few propositions on the November ballot. Some may have an impact on UC; others address more distant issues. TV ads are already appearing. For example, Prop 25 (majority vote on state budgets) proponents have an ad running: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqmKOjorb54Back in 2006, the organization CalVoter created a song to remember the propositions on the ballot then. There is now an update to help you remember which is which and what is what. Click on the video below. The video first appeared at: http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2010/09/video-sing-along-to-the-ballot.html But since these web news accounts tend to disappear, I have uploaded it. And…

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LAO analysis of Nov ballot propositions

Byuclafaculty

Various propositions will be on the November ballot thanks to Governor Hiram Johnson (elected 1910) who brought us direct democracy. Some may have indirect implications for the state and therefore the UC budget. None deal directly with higher ed financing. The Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) has now released its analysis of each of the ten propositions. You can read the LAO’s views at http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/ballot_source/Propositions.aspx (Be sure to click all 3 pages. Note that there have been moves to pull the water bond off the ballot.) Among the propositions for November is one that would allow passage of the state budget…

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Almost 2/3 Favor Abolishing 2/3 on State Budget

Byuclafaculty

A proposition (Prop 25) on the November 2010 ballot will allow voters to choose whether to abolish the 2/3 vote requirement to pass a state budget in both houses of the legislature. Almost 2/3 of voters support a simple majority vote on the budget according to the latest Field Poll. You can examine the results (including data on voter attitudes towards other items on the ballot) at: http://field.com/fieldpollonline/subscribers/Rls2342.pdf If you really want to look at the details, go to:http://media.sacbee.com/smedia/2010/07/08/16/0709rls.source.prod_affiliate.4.pdf Voters from both parties support abolishing the 2/3 rule on budgets, although support is stronger among Democrats. The 2/3 requirement on…

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Somewhat dueling ballot initiatives for November

Byuclafaculty

Various propositions will be on the November ballot with implications for the state budget – and, therefore, the UC budget. One would eliminate the 2/3 super-majority vote required to pass the budget and change it to a simple majority. It would not change the 2/3 requirement for raising taxes. (The 2/3 vote on budgets goes back to the Great Depression; the 2/3 vote on taxes was part of Prop 13 of 1978.) But another initiative would impose the 2/3 requirement on raising “fees.” The fee vs. tax distinction is not always clear and has provided some wiggle room for the…