California Ballot Initiatives
October 19, 2000
Election 2000 QuickGuide
California Ballot Initiatives
Prop. 32: Veterans’ Bond — Would allow the state to borrow $500 million through the sale of general obligation bonds to replenish Cal-Vet funding for long-term farm and home loans made to California vets.
Pro: The Cal-Vet loan program helps vets invest in homes.
Con: Money raised from the sale of tax-free bonds could be spent on taxable investments, bringing money into the state treasuries.
Prop. 33: Legislature Participation in Public Employees’ Retirement System — Would allow legislators to participate in the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), which provides retirement benefits to a majority of state government workers. Currently legislators are limited to participation in the federal Social Security system.
Pro: Legislators can participate in PERS on the same terms and conditions as the average government employee.
Con: Will result in an ongoing General Fund cost to provide retiree health benefits for retirees.
Prop. 34: Campaign Contributions and Spending Limits — Would repeal a majority of provisions established by 1996’s Proposition 208, which attempted to limit campaign contribution and reduce the spending limits. It currently is held up in court. This measure would substitute increased limits of up to 20 times the amount that state candidates can receive from contributors and up to 4 times the amount they can spend if they accept spending limits. It also allows unlimited soft money spending.
Pro: The contribution and spending limits established by the measure are realistic for the size of this state.
Con: The measure was placed on the ballot in order to forestall reinstatement of a campaign finance reform measure approved by voters.
Prop. 35: Public Works Project — Would allow the state to contract with private firms for architectural and engineering services.
Pro: Contracting with private-sector firms could mean more expedient services since firms would be chosen based on qualifications.
Con: The sudden increase in construction could mean a worsening of traffic congestion.
Prop. 36: Drug Probation
and Treatment Programs — Would require probation and drug treatment programs, not incarceration, for convictions and parole violations involving the possession, use or transportation of drugs. Will exclude offenders who used firearms during the crime, third striker offenders or parole violators with a prior conviction of serious or violent or crimes.
Pro: Non-violent offenders would get the treatment services they need, which are more effective than prison, and will save tax payers in societal costs.
Con: This measure would replace a judicial discretion with a mandatory system that can be dangerous.
Prop. 37: Voters Fees, Taxes — Would redefine certain voters’ regulatory fees enacted by the government to protect health and environment (i.e., smog check, land development fees, restaurant inspection) as taxes, since taxes are legislatively harder to create or increase.
Pro: Would limit the growth of government and high prices for tax payers.
Con: Would make tax payers, rather corporations, pay for environmental and health damages caused by their products.
Prop. 38: School Vouchers — Would require the state to make yearly payments of $4,000 per student grades K-12, for tuition in private or religious schools, or those students transferring from public to private schools.
Pro: Gives parents a chance to remove their children from failing public schools and enroll them in private institutions.
Con: Public funds would go to private schools that are not regulated by the state.
Prop. 39: Fifty five percent local vote — Would change existing provisions that call for local school bonds to be approved by a two-thirds vote to a requirement of 55 percent of the vote.
Pro: Lowering the vote needed to pass bonds would make it easier for schools to obtain funding.
Con: The two-thirds requirement protects a minority of homeowners from property taxes increase caused by a majority renters.
Con: Money raised from the sale of tax-free bonds could be spent on taxable investments, bringing money into the state treasuries.
Con: Will result in an ongoing General Fund cost to provide retiree health benefits for retirees.
Con: The measure was placed on the ballot in order to forestall reinstatement of a campaign finance reform measure approved by voters.
Con: The sudden increase in construction could mean a worsening of traffic congestion.
and Treatment Programs — Would require probation and drug treatment programs, not incarceration, for convictions and parole violations involving the possession, use or transportation of drugs. Will exclude offenders who used firearms during the crime, third striker offenders or parole violators with a prior conviction of serious or violent or crimes.
Con: This measure would replace a judicial discretion with a mandatory system that can be dangerous.
Con: Would make tax payers, rather corporations, pay for environmental and health damages caused by their products.
Con: Public funds would go to private schools that are not regulated by the state.
Con: The two-thirds requirement protects a minority of homeowners from property taxes increase caused by a majority renters.
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