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September
15, 2002 Alert #7
NOVEMBER
BALLOT PROPOSITIONS
The positions
listed below represent the decisions of the Board of Directors of
California Church IMPACT. While Board members come from various
member denominations, their views do not necessarily represent their
denomination's position on specific recommendations. A more complete
description of the November ballot propositions can be downloaded
from our website at www.calchurches.org.
Proposition 46 is a legislative bond measure that
would permit the state to issue $2.1 billion in general obligation
bonds to provide housing for moderate- and low-income and homeless
Californians.
Proponents state that the measure would help provide safe
and clean housing for senior citizens and low income families, affordable
housing for working people, housing for the homeless, accessibility
improvements for disabled Californians, and loan assistance for
military veterans, teachers, police, and firefighters.
Opponents argue that money to repay the bonds comes from
the general fund, which means that since there is no surplus there,
repayment can come only from other programs or a tax increase.
The Board of California Church IMPACT recommends a “YES”
vote on Proposition 46. The evidence of the need for more
housing for low- and moderate-income and homeless Californians is
obvious and undeniable. The state finds ways to aid business, farmers,
movie-makers, and other groups. It can surely fund this bond measure
to assist these other Californians in need.
Proposition 47 is a legislative bond measure that
would permit the state to issue $13 billion in general obligation
bonds to fund construction and renovation of K-12 and higher education
facilities.
Proponents point out that students can’t learn and
teachers can’t teach in overcrowded and rundown classrooms.
This measure they say will build new schools; repair and renovate
old and outdated schools; fix leaky roofs, repair bathrooms, and
put heating and air conditioning in classrooms.
Opponents state that the state is already overburdened with
bond debt. As a result, the bond grading services have reduced California’s
credit rating to the third lowest in the country.
The Board of California Church IMPACT recommends a “YES”
vote on Proposition 47. State- sponsored bond measures
have worked well in the past to deal with similar problems at both
K-12 and college levels.
Proposition 48 is a legislative constitutional
amendment which makes technical changes to the state constitution
related to the court consolidation measure (Proposition 220) passed
by California voters in 1998.
Proponents argue that these are simply technical changes
in the state constitution passed unanimously by the Legislature
to implement Prop. 220 adopted by the voters four years ago.
Opponents suggest the elimination of municipal courts (which
the voters enacted in 1998) in favor of a single “superior
court” in each county has created at least the appearance
of unfairness and has made local courts more insular and less accountable.
The Board of California Church IMPACT takes “NO POSITION”
on Proposition 48 because the substance of this Proposition
falls outside the purview of our work.
Proposition 49 is an initiative statute that would
increase state funding for after-school programs beginning in fiscal
year 2004-2005. Beginning in 2004, Proposition 49 would increase
state spending to $550 million annually if state revenues grow beyond
a specified target.
Proponents argue that current spending levels are woefully
inadequate to meet the needs of students after the end of the school
day. Studies demonstrate that high quality after-school programs
increase academic test scores and dramatically reduce youth crime
rates during the 3 p.m. -6 p.m. weekday hours.
Opponents suggest that given California’s fiscal distress,
the state can ill-afford to earmark any additional money for after-school
programs when huge deficits continue to loom on the horizon.
The Board of California Church IMPACT recommends a “YES”
vote on Proposition 49. While the IMPACT Board is generally
wary of ballot-box budgeting, California has severely under-funded
this important program area.
Proposition
50 is an initiative which would authorize $3.44 billion
in general obligations bonds to pay for a variety of water projects.
Proponents claim that pollution, drought, and population
growth threaten safe and reliable water supplies, and argue that
the increased threat of terrorism requires additional efforts to
protect California’s domestic water resources.
Opponents argue that the funds on Prop. 50 would be better
spent on building large storage reservoirs, and that Prop. 50 is
weighted too heavily toward environmental interests at the expense
of long range water supply.
The Board of California Church IMPACT recommends a “YES”
vote on Proposition 50. Prop. 50 would maintain momentum
in addressing California’s urgent water challenges and protect
the environment.
Proposition 51 is an initiative statute which would
make changes in the way that the state funds transportation-related
projects. Specifically, this initiative would transfer 30 percent
of the state’s share of sales tax revenues generated by automobile
sales to a variety of transportation and environmental programs.
Proponents argue that the cost of meeting the state’s
transportation infrastructure is greater than the current level
of resources dedicated to this purpose. They suggest that Prop 51
would provide additional resources to fund critical transportation
systems that are susceptible to political gridlock through the legislative
process.
Opponents state that Proposition 51 is another illustration
of “ballot box” budgeting, and would, over the long
term, reduce funds available for other important programs and services,
including health care, local government, public safety and higher
education.
The Board of California Church IMPACT takes “NO POSITION”
on Proposition 51. While acknowledging the many important
transportation projects funded under Proposition 51, the IMPACT
Board does not believe that these issues should be addressed through
the initiative process. Unlike Proposition 49, which provides a
budget trigger mechanism for additional spending, this proposal
offers no such mechanism and therefore potentially places other
important human services and educational programs supported by IMPACT
at-risk.
Proposition 52, placed on the ballot by initiative petition,
would allow persons who are legally eligible to vote and have valid
identification to register to vote on election day at their polling
place.
Proponents say that Prop. 52 will make voter fraud more difficult
by increasing penalties and by requiring election officials to report
suspected fraud to district attorneys. They say Prop. 52 will help
turn around dismal voter turnout.
Opponents say that the fraud protections in Prop. 52 are ineffective
and difficult to enforce, which will allow felons and non-citizens
to vote, and that the rights of legitimate voters to have their
votes counted will be compromised. They assert that this proposition
will be ineffective in reversing low turnout.
The Board of California Church IMPACT recommends a “YES”
vote on Proponents 52, as a means of making voting more
accessible to those who would otherwise be eligible.
SUMMARY
OF CALIFORNIA CHURCH IMPACT POSITIONS
November, 2002 Ballot Propositions
Proposition 46 YES
Proposition 47 YES
Proposition 48 NO POSITION
Proposition 49 YES
Proposition 50 YES
Proposition 51 NO POSITION
Proposition 52 YES
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