Spending on Nov. 8 ballot props tops $222 million

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Fueled by pharmaceutical companies and fights over the governor's ballot measures, spending on the eight propositions on the Nov. 8 special election ballot has already topped $230 million.

The record for spending on ballot measures in a single California election is $253.6 million, set last November, according to figures from the secretary of state's office.

Drug companies alone have spent more than $76.5 million to pass Proposition 78 and defeat Proposition 79, the rival medication discount measures on the ballot. A campaign committee backing Proposition 79 and opposing Proposition 78 has spent only about $503,000.

Proposition 79, sponsored by labor and consumer groups, would provide discounted drugs to about 10 million uninsured Californians and would penalize pharmaceutical companies that refused to participate in the program.

Proposition 78 would set up a voluntary discount program covering about 5 million Californians.

Campaign committees funded by teachers, firefighters, prison guards and other opponents of the four ballot measures pushed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger have already spent more than $100 million to defeat the measures.

Committees list by the secretary of state's office as supporters of the four measures have reported spending $22 million.

But that figure doesn't include most of the $32.5 spent by the California Recovery Team, the campaign committee that raises money for ballot measures supported by the Republican governor. To date, the combination of money the governor has raised through both his Recovery Team and other committees engaged in the special election totals close to $45 million.

All of the spending totals are through last Saturday, the cutoff date in campaign finance reports that had to be filed by Thursday night.

Proposition 74 would increase the probationary period for new teachers. Proposition 75 would make it tougher for public employee unions to raise campaign funds. Proposition 76 would give the governor new powers over state spending. And Proposition 77 would take away the Legislature's power to draw legislative and congressional districts.

Also on the ballot are Proposition 73, which would require notification of parents, or approval from a judge, when a minor seeks an abortion, and Proposition 80, which would impose new controls on the state's electricity market.

"Campaign committees funded by teachers, firefighters, prison guards and other opponents of the four ballot measures pushed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger have already spent more than $100 million to defeat the measures. "

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How interesting the way they carefully avoid the "U" word, that all this money is coming from UNIONS.

Already $100 million and we still have over a week to go. It's no wonder the Unions were whining several months ago that the special election would cost too much! The actual cost of the Statewide special election, $45 million, is a fraction of the money the unions are pouring into advertisements.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/06/14/MNGELD873Q1.DTL
Q&A: Friends, foes, cost, particulars and history of special election
John M. Hubbell
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Q: How much will the special election cost?

Secretary of State Bruce McPherson has estimated the election will cost between $44.6 million and $80 million. The lower figure, released Friday, is derived from the cost of holding a November election in counties where one was not previously scheduled, whereas the higher figure includes the cost of holding elections in all counties.

Fueled by pharmaceutical companies and fights over the governor's ballot measures

Funny how they start with the pharmaceutical companies and then continue with the "fights" instead of actually mentioning that the largest spenders as a group are the Unions.

spending on the eight propositions on the Nov. 8 special election ballot has already topped $230 million.

That's like $6 per person in CA -- quite a lot of money. The special election is stimulating the state economy!

Committees list by the secretary of state's office as supporters of the four measures have reported spending $22 million.

But that figure doesn't include most of the $32.5 spent by the California Recovery Team, the campaign committee that raises money for ballot measures supported by the Republican governor. To date, the combination of money the governor has raised through both his Recovery Team and other committees engaged in the special election totals close to $45 million.

Oops, the AP needs an editor. Clearly they couldn't have meant that $22 million spent + $32.5 spent = $45 million raised. (notice the $32.5 has no "million" or "thousand")

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