politics

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Numbers Game Mainly Over for November Ballot Propositions

Byuclafaculty

The legislature and Governor Brown succeeded in getting the governor’s tax initiative at the top of the ballot (as Prop 30).  There is still some litigation on the numbering issue going on but below is the likely listing you will see in November: Prop 30 – Gov. Jerry Brown’s tax increase planProp 31 – State budget process changesProp 32 – Ban on payroll deductions for political contributions; ban on contributions to candidates from unions and corporationsProp 33 – Auto insurance rates based on driver’s history of coverageProp 34 – Death penalty repealProp 35 – Increased penalties for human traffickingProp 36…

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A Guide for the Perplexed Voter

Byuclafaculty

If you are wondering what statewide ballot propositions will be on the ballot in November, here is the complete list (below).  The numbering and ordering of the propositions has yet to occur.  The legislature passed a bill that would put the governor’s tax initiative as the first one.  That action is currently being litigated by Molly Munger, wealthy sponsor of a rival tax initiative.  The legislature removed a water bond from the November ballot that would otherwise have appeared.  In some cases below, yours truly has added some editorial comments in italics.  Text below is from the California Secretary of…

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Sacramento Pension Politics Could Open Door to UC Exemption

Byuclafaculty

Governor Brown has a 12-point pension plan for all public pensions in California that would override UC’s own pension solution.  The legislative leaders have a different view on pensions than the governor but they also have shown no sign of being willing to exempt UC so far. However, while the governor and the legislature tussle over the pension issue, voters have imposed pension changes in local elections, notably in San Diego and San Jose.  The governor has indicated that public sector unions should agree to his plan or they will get worse from local voters.  It appears that Senate leader…

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Poll Shows Narrow (Maybe Too Narrow) Support for Governor’s Tax Initiative

Byuclafaculty

Above is an excerpt from a Field Poll released today that indicates 54% support for the governor’s tax initiative.  The Munger initiative (a different tax increase for schools) and the Steyer tax initiative (close corporate loophole) are losing.  Although 54% is sufficient to pass an initiative, the campaign pro and con has yet to begin.  Folk wisdom is that a controversial initiative should start with at least 60% support since some support will erode as the anti-initiative campaign develops.  So 54% at this time may not be enough in November.  If the initiative doesn’t pass, there will be trigger cuts…

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UCLA Drops Opposition to Athletes’ Bill of Rights After Amendments

Byuclafaculty

After amendment, UCLA has dropped its opposition to a bill pending in the legislature containing a “bill of rights” for student athletes.  UC-Berkeley and USC have also dropped opposition.  Stanford is still opposed. …Sen. Alex Padilla, of Los Angeles, agreed to amend Senate Bill 1525 amid opposition from Stanford, UC-Berkeley, UCLA and the University of Southern California.  This bill now requires the four schools to continue scholarships for injured athletes and athletes who have exhausted their athletic eligibility, but have not finished their degree. The schools would also have to pay for health insurance for low-income individuals and tell a student athlete within seven days whether…

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Prop 13 Challenge by Former Chancellor UCLA Charles Young

Byuclafaculty

Most readers of this blog will know that Proposition 13, an initiative sponsored by Howard Jarvis (shown in the picture on the cover of Time) and Paul Gann, drastically cut local property taxes in 1978.  However, another feature of Prop 13 was adding a requirement that taxes could not be raised without a 2/3 vote of the legislature.  The 2/3 tax provision of Prop 13 was added to the Depression-era requirement for a 2/3 vote for the budget itself.   Voters in 2010 removed the 2/3 for budgets but not the 2/3 for taxes.  Indeed, they strengthened the 2/3 for…

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A Happy Fella

Byuclafaculty

In a June 29 report to the Regents, President Yudof recounts the impact of the new state budget on UC and notes other issues still pending at the legislature.  Presumably, all of these developments will be reviewed at the upcoming Regents meeting later this month. [Thanks to David Lopez for passing it along.] The Yudof report praises our friend in Sacramento (governor+legislator) for fiscal beneficence.  When you consider that we froze (or the Regents are about to freeze) tuition today for a promise of $125 million in next year’s budget, you might think the praise is a bit effusive.  You…

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UC Again in Danger of Being Swept into Statewide Pension Changes

Byuclafaculty

There are various indications that now that the legislature is done (for a time) in dealing with the state budget, its attention is turning toward public pensions. Under the governor’s plan, UC would be swept into a statewide program that would override the changes adopted by the Regents in December 2010.  Among the changes in the governor’s plan would be that the new lower tier would not be exclusively defined benefit but would have to be a hybrid mix of defined benefit and defined contribution.  There would also be a cap of some type on total benefits. (Unclear exactly how…

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When It Comes to November Ballot Initiatives, the More the Merrier

Byuclafaculty

Yet another initiative has qualified for the crowded November ballot.  This one is a do-good budget reform with various features including a move to two-year budgets rather than one-year.  California had two-year budgets back in Great Depression times.  No miracles resulted from budgets based on the Earth cycling around the Sun twice rather than once back then.  It is odd to think that such miracles will occur now.  Budgets are based on forecasts of revenues and to some extent on spending. When the January budget proposal is made, the governor forecasts a period ranging from 6 to 18 months ahead.  With…

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Update: UC Tuition Freeze & Other Budget Items Confirmed

Byuclafaculty

Earlier today, we posted an unconfirmed item saying the budget now going through the legislature contains some added funding for UC in exchange for a tuition freeze.  That item has now been confirmed (and it is, as reported, contingent on voter approval of the governor’s tax initiative in November).  So have other elements reported in earlier posts such as added and earmarked funding for the pension (but with no acknowledgment of state liability for the pension).  And the legislature has declined to go along with the governor’s voiding of legislative earmarks for UC and some kind of long-term funding deal…