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Rules, Regs and Political Snips

By Melinda Eppler


November’s Ballot: Take a Pro Biz Approach
Making sense of ballot-measure mumbo jumbo at election time is often as frustrating as carving the Thanksgiving turkey with a dull knife. And living with the outcome of feckless voters’ choices is no fun, either.
In order to secure, to the extent it’s possible, a more robust environment in which to live, work and play, the business community would be wise to consider supporting and opposing the following measures on the Nov. 7 ballot.

Vote Yes

Prop. 1A: Transportation Funding Protection
This is a constitutional amendment to protect gas tax revenues from being used for purposes other than transportation. Prop. 42, passed by voters in 2002, provided much-needed funding for transportation projects. Unfortunately, the funds weren’t protected, and lawmakers siphoned $2.5 billion to fund other things. Prop. 1A protects transportation funding for traffic congestion relief projects, safety improvements and local streets and roads. It further prohibits the state’s gas tax from being used for any purpose other than transportation improvements.

Prop. 1B: Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality and Port Security Bond Act of 2006
This $19.9 billion bond measure makes safety improvements and repairs to state highways; upgrades freeways to reduce congestion; repairs local streets and roads; and upgrades highways along major transportation corridors. Improves seismic safety of local bridges, expands public transit, helps complete the state’s network of car pool lanes, reduces air pollution, improves anti-terrorism security at shipping ports, provides for a bond issue not to exceed the $19 plus billion, and appropriates money from the general fund to pay off bonds.

Prop. 1C: Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act of 2006
This $2.9 billion bond measure will help fund emergency shelters for battered women, affordable homes of seniors and low-income families, and shelters with social services for homeless families with kids. This measure will be funded out of existing state resources without raising taxes.

Prop. 1D: Kindergarten-University Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 2006
Prop. 1D is a $10.4 billion bond measure that will secure funding to relieve public school overcrowding and repair old schools. It will ensure that earthquake retrofits will be made and will fund vocational education programs in public schools. Monies will also be used to repair and upgrade existing public college and university buildings and will build new classrooms to accommodate the growing number of students in community colleges and the CSU and UC systems.

Prop. 1E: Disaster Preparedness and Flood Prevention Bond Act of 2006
Yes on Prop. 1E will protect against floods, prevent ocean pollution and safeguard drinking water. This $4.1 billion bond measure is part of the Rebuild California Plan, which uses the taxes we’re already paying to build the roads, housing, schools and water systems we need to sustain our economy and our quality of life long term.

Vote No
Prop. 86: Tax on Cigarettes
This measure increases the state’s excise tax by 300 percent, adding an additional $2.60 per pack tax to the price of cigarettes sold in California, with the majority of the revenue used to fund healthcare services.

Prop. 87: Tax on California Oil
This measure places a new tax only on oil produced in California (the source of almost half the gasoline consumed in the state), thereby increasing California’s dependence on foreign and imported oil by significantly adding to the cost of oil production and diverting funds that would be available for domestic oil exploration and development.

Prop. 89: Political Campaigns
This initiative increases corporate income taxes to pay for publicly financed campaigns. The proposition limits corporate contributions or spending to $10,000 to support or oppose any state ballot measures. In addition, it prohibits corporate contributions to candidates who opt to receive public funding. Passage of Prop. 89 would be a disaster for business in politics and gives anti-business forces the upper hand in campaigns.
    For an update on these issues, visit the California Chamber of Commerce’s government relations section online.
calchamber.com/cc/governmentrelations

Q and R = Right Choices
Measures Q and R are two of the most controversial ballot issues for us locally. Considered by local leaders as far and away the biggest “no brainer,” Measures Q and R challenge the public to make two very important decisions about what they want their town to be — a player, or a tier II contender. Kings and Monarchs aside, the outcome of these measures will dramatically affect the economy and morale of this fast-growing region for years to come.
    If passed, Measures Q and R would jumpstart and anchor an estimated $4.5 billion in urban redevelopment projects. Plans to add housing, retail, performing arts venues, education and cultural attractions, pedestrian-friendly public plazas and green spaces, urban waterways, environmental improvements and state-of-the-art transportation upgrades are contingent on funds that Q and R will generate. 
    To put this in perspective, the average consumer can expect to be paying $3 to $5 per month in extra tax, or 1.5 lattes per taxable $2,000 spent.
    Measure R: The measure proposes to increase the general sales tax in Sacramento County by a quarter cent for a period of 15 years, beginning January 2007. Measure R would generate approximately $1.2 billion over the 15 years based on regional growth. A yes vote on Measure R is expected to generate urgently needed investment in the greater Sacramento County community. The revenue generated by Measure R is expected to stimulate:
• New jobs
• New investment in the region
• Enhanced arts and culture
• Economic strength to local cities and counties
    It would of course, also build a new state-of-the-art sports and entertainment complex for the region.
    Measure Q: A yes on Measure Q will turn ideas into reality. Measure Q advocates specific uses of Measure R dollars, allowing taxpayers to recommend spending priorities for Sacramento County. Top priorities as outlined in Measure Q: distribution to Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Folsom, Galt, Isleton and Rancho Cordova to spend on local quality-of-life improvements, and the construction of a state-of-the-art sports and entertainment complex proposed at the former Union Pacific rail yards in downtown Sacramento.
Clearly, Measures Q and R are not just about professional sports. Professional sports events will be hosted approximately 70 days per year, leaving a hefty balance of time to be filled with other events and venue usage. Those of you who like Madonna had to drive to Fresno or San Jose to see her latest tour. Sacramento was not a contender. Ice shows, the circus, and other headliner musicians such as The Rolling Stones and Pearl Jam would consider playing in Sacramento if the venue were competitive. What we have currently isn’t cutting the mustard.
    The passage of Measures Q and R will go a long way to building stronger communities and create a cutting-edge region that can play with other regions in the United States on a level playing field.

Yolo County’s Measure L
Davis has agreed to ask voters in November to choose whether or not they want to consider a different way of voting. Measure L is an advisory measure only and, if passed, does not establish a policy that must be followed by the city; however, it does give voters the opportunity to indicate their approval or disapproval of a proposal to the city council. What? Back in 2003, UC Davis students passed the Choice Voting Amendment to the Associated Students UC Davis constitution, 67 percent to 33 percent. The amendment implemented choice voting for ASUCD Senate elections and instant runoff voting for ASUCD presidential elections.
    Choice voting allows you, the voter, to rank the candidates in the order you like them: first, second, third choice, and so on. If your top choice isn’t elected, your vote can go to your next choice, instead of being wasted. Proponents of the choice voting system say the problem with the current approach is that the more candidates who run, the fewer votes it takes to win. Some votes count more than others, and a small minority of voters can decide the whole election for the rest.
    With choice voting, the amount it takes to win stays the same no matter how many candidates run, and every vote counts equally. You can vote for whom you really believe in, without worrying about throwing your vote away. This way, the candidates with the best ideas have a fair chance of winning, regardless of fame or financing. Supporters also say that counting the votes is easy. The top choices are counted, and any candidate with enough votes to win gets elected. If no one has enough to win, the candidate with the least votes is eliminated, just like a runoff election, and the voters’ next choices are counted instead. This repeats one round at a time until the election is won.
    For more information about choice voting, check out Davis Citizens for Representation online. 
davischoicevoting.org

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