Confused about all of the Propositions on California’s November 2nd ballot?

Uprising Radio, a Progressively leaning radio show on the publicly funded station KPFK 90.7FM (in Los Angeles, it’s a different station number for each county) has compiled all of their recent interviews with people somehow involved with each issue to give a comprehensive Progressive understanding of each Prop’s outcome. 

Here is the flow of the Progressive moment’s opinions (N: May not be my personal opinion):

Prop 19 (Marijuana Legalization)……………………..YES
Prop 20 (Fair Redistricting)……………………………….YES
Prop 21 (State Park funding thru Car Taxes)………? (N: I say yes!)
Prop 22 (Tax Dollars for Developers)……………….NO
Prop 23 (Oil-funded Pollution)……………………………NO
Prop 24 (Closes Corporate Tax Loopholes)………YES
Prop 25 (Majority Approval of State Budget)……YES
Prop 26 (Oil, Alcohol, Tobacco-backed)…………….NO
Prop 27 (Redistricting by State Lawmakers)……..NO

Explanations of each Proposition from the Progressive point of view:

Propositions 20, 27: New Documentary and Propositions Focus on the Politics of Redistricting

Listen to this segment

Each state in the U.S. redraws the boundaries of its electoral districts every 10 years, following the US Census. 2010 is a Census year and so the complex and often corrupt process of redistricting will soon begin nationwide. Propositions 20 and 27 on California’s November ballot each tackle redistricting, and they are in direct opposition to each other. Both are reactions to Proposition 11, the successful 2008 ballot initiative that created a Citizens’ Redistricting Committee, which shifted the power to redistrict away from state legislators to an independent 14-member commission. Currently, drawing the boundaries for STATE legislative districts is within the purview of the the new Citizen’s Committee. Prop. 20 would expand its power to include redistricting for Congressional districts. Prop. 20 supporters say that when state legislators are tasked with drawing up electoral boundaries their self-interest causes Gerrymandering, districts that are deliberately drawn to favor one candidate. The Yes on Prop. 20 campaign is also the NO on Prop. 27 campaign. If passed, Prop. 27 would eliminate the Citizen’s Redistricting Committee and return the redistricting process back to state legislators. Prop. 27 is supported by state legislators who say the independent commission is too expensive for the state to maintain in times of fiscal crisis. Although the Citizen’s Committee was approved two years ago, it is still under construction and cannot meet until the federal government releases the necessary census data on population. Just in time for the election a new documentary, “Gerrymandering”, takes an entertaining yet critical look at the nationwide problem of biased redistricting.

GUEST: Derek Cressman, Western States Regional Director for Common Cause

Find out more at www.commoncause.org. Common Cause recommends Yes on Proposition 20 and No on Proposition 27. Find out more at www.yes20no27.org.

The film Gerrymandering opens at the Nuart Theater on October 15th. The Nuart is located at 1272 Santa Monica Boulevard, just a few blocks west of the 405 Freeway in West Los Angeles. There is also a special screening of the film on October 3rd at UCLA.

Find out more about the film at www.gerrymanderingmovie.com.

Ballot Propositions 22 & 25 Focus on California’s Budget Woes

Listen to this segment

The California budget is over three months late, and there is no end in site to the stalemate in Sacramento. A November proposition may offer some relief. Proposition 25 seeks to make California the 48th state where only a simple majority vote of approval is needed to pass the annual budget. Currently, California’s budget must be approved by 2/3 of all legislators, a super majority vote that is very difficult to achieve. Passing the budget late has become routine, creating a near constant state of emergency. The cost of a late budget is in the millions. Supporters of Prop. 25 say that last year’s impasse forced the state to issue 450,000 IOUs, which then cost taxpayers $8 million in interest alone. In addition to the financial toll, late budgets can cause teacher lay-offs and delay the completion of infrastructure projects. Proposition 25 would NOT change the current requirement of a 2/3 approval to raise taxes. In the LA Times George Skelton wrote that our current system allows the minority party, historically the Republicans, to stall the budget process. He observed, “The budget inevitably closes with a deal laden with pork projects or other concessions for a holdout politician whose demands would not otherwise fly in a more democratic process.”

A second budget related initiative, Prop. 22, seeks to dramatically change the way the state of California can borrow funds. Currently if the Governor declares a fiscal emergency the state can borrow money from cities. The state must repay the loans within 3 years, and the state cannot borrow funds more than two times in ten years. The No on Prop. 22 campaign says the proposition is advertised as a way to protect small city budgets from raids by the State, but in reality it is a money grab for redevelopment agencies. These agencies have the power to seize private property and use tax-payer money for private development projects like malls, hotels, and stadiums that do not provide a financial benefit to all residents.

GUEST: Marty Hittleman: President of the California Federation of Teachers (CTA)

The CTA urges a YES vote on Proposition 25

The CTA does not take a position on Proposition 22, but the California Teachers Association and the California Nurses Association urge NO on Proposition 22.

Find out more at www.cbp.org and www.cta.org.

Propositions 21, 24, 26: Three California Propositions Tackle Taxes

Listen to this segment

Taxes are always a hot topic, spurring heated debates and even the up-start TEA party. Three tax related propositions will be on California’s ballot in November: Propositions 21, 24, and 26. Prop 24, called the Tax Fairness Act, targets three recently enacted corporate tax loopholes. In 2008 and 2009 the California legislature approved 1.3 billion dollars in tax cuts that benefit less than 2% of California’s businesses. One tax cut gave businesses more flexibility in how they calculated their tax rate. Another allowed more opportunities to claim a tax refund from previous years based on the losses of the current year. And the third allowed different companies operating under the same management to share tax credits. Prop. 24 supporters say the corporations that benefit from these tax cuts laid-off 100,000 employees in 2009 while paying their CEO’s a combined $8.5 billion. These same businesses have also spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to defeat Prop 24.

The NO on 26 campaign says that measure, dubbed “Stop Hidden Taxes,” is backed by the oil, alcohol, and tobacco industries. Prop. 26 would change California’s constitution, redefining regulatory fees - like those imposed on major polluters - as taxes. If 26 passes a 2/3 vote of the legislature would be required to approve any new taxes that were once considered fees. The No on 26 campaign says approval by super-majority is nearly impossible to achieve, and these fees are currently used to fund environmental clean-up efforts, and programs that address the negative effects of tobacco and alcohol use, among other things.

Finally, Proposition 21, the third initiative on taxes, would increase vehicle licensing fees by $18 to fund state parks.

GUEST: Lenny Goldberg, Executive Director of California Tax Reform Association

Find out more online at www.CalTaxReform.org

Lenny Goldberg recommends the following websites:

For Prop. 24: YesProp24.org
For Prop. 26: StopPolluterProtection.com

All propositions and candidates can be found online at www.BallotPedia.org

Prop 23: Texas Oil Companies Game California Ballot for Profit

Listen to this segment

Two Texas oil companies are bankrolling an effort to effectively repeal California’s air pollution and clean energy standards through ballot proposition 23. Supporters of Prop.23 call it the “California Jobs Initiative”, and argue that California’s environmental standards inhibit job growth. The ballot initiative suspends the provisions put in place four years ago by California Assembly Bill 32. Prop. 23 would suspend AB 32 until California’s unemployment rate dips and holds steady at 5.5% for a full year. The No on 23 campaign says this has only happened three times in the last 40 years and warns that this suspension would become a de facto repeal of environmental protections. In August California’s unemployment rate was at 12.4%. Last week the Sacramento Bee reported that Republican Gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman has taken a position against Prop. 23, but said she would suspend AB 32 for at least one year. She reasoned that, “While green jobs are an important and growing part of our state’s economic future, we cannot forget the other 97% of jobs in key sectors like manufacturing, agriculture, transportation and energy.”

GUEST: Steven Maviglio, Spokesperson with the NO on Prop. 23 Campaign

Find out more at stopdirtyenergyprop.com.

Is the Tide Turning on Proposition 19?

Listen to this segment

A new poll by USC and the LA Times has found that a slim majority of likely voters now oppose Proposition 19, the November 2nd ballot measure that would legalize some aspects of possessing and growing Marijuana. Prop 19 had been leading in polls but after US Attorney General Eric Holder promised to enforce Federal Drug laws if it passed, the tide seems to be turning. In a letter to 9 former heads of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Holder wrote, “We will vigorously enforce the [federal Controlled Substances Act] against those individuals and organizations that possess, manufacture or distribute marijuana for recreational use, even if such activities are permitted under state law.” A number of celebrities including Danny Glover and Melissa Ethridge, have come out in support of Proposition 19. The NAACP also supports it in the hopes that Prop 19 will curb the disproportionate targeting of African Americans and Latinos in the drug enforcement dragnet. A group of mothers recently rallied in favor of Prop 19 in West Hollywood, saying it’s passage would create safer communities for children and reduce gang violence and the black-market trade in pot. Even current and former law enforcement officers favor the legalization bill. However, LA County Sheriff Lee Baca has vigorously opposed it, saying he would be forced to enforce federal laws against marijuana use and cultivation if Prop 19 passed. Additionally, many traditionally progressive organizations like unions have chosen to not even take a position on Proposition 19.

GUEST: Kyle Kazan, retired police officer, member of Law Enforcement Officers Against Prohibition (LEAP)

Find out more at www.leap.cc.

Pot Legalization Advocates Say No On 19 Campaign Based on Economic Self-Interests

Listen to this segment

Opponents of California’s proposition 19, which would legalize and tax marijuana if passed this November, got a $10,000 donation from a would-be industry competitor. The East Bay Express reported this week that the California Beer and Beverage Distributors made the large donation to the No on Prop19 campaign through its political action committee. The group’s website says it represents over 100 beer distributors and brewer/vendor members. Prop. 19 supporter retired Orange County judge James Gray explained it saying “they are protecting their own economic self-interest.” The controversial ballot measure would make marijuana a legal, controlled substance. Individuals could carry up to one ounce, and personal marijuana gardens no bigger than 5ft x 5ft would be allowed. Nationally, according to 2009 statistics released by the FBI this week, Marijuana arrests accounted for more than half of all US drugs arrests, with the majority being for possession. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health released a report yesterday showing that 16.7 million Americans had used Marijuana in the past month alone. There are a number of states including California, that have marijuana legalization measures on November’s ballot. Here in California, the state’s Board of Equalization projects that a regulated and taxed marijuana industry could generate $1.4 billion in revenue for the state every year. Supporters say the prohibition on marijuana wastes the resources of police departments and floods the prison system with non-violent offenders. Arguments against proposition 19 include concerns for public safety, and criticism that the legislation is poorly written.

GUEST: Mike Meno, Director of Communications at the Marijuana Policy Project

Find out more at www.mpp.org.