Free Republic

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Angering environmentalists and consumer groups, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger sided Friday with his business allies and announced his support for Proposition 64 and his opposition to Proposition 72. Meanwhile, state Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi endorsed Proposition 72, calling it "an important step" toward providing health insurance for all Californians. Proposition 64 would limit use of the state's Unfair Competition Law to sue businesses for practices that would allegedly give them an unfair advantage over their competitors or defraud consumers. Supporters, which include a long list of major corporations, say it would prevent law firms from filing "shakedown lawsuits"...

<p>Contrary to the contentions made in the Register's Feb. 17 editorial ["Proposition package fails the test"], Propositions 57 and 58 are essential to the stability of California's state finances. Over the past four years, the state budget has been woefully mismanaged. We are now at a crossroad. The choices are daunting. To pay for the $13.1 billion debt the last two budgets have left us, we will either approve the Prop. 57 bond or the Legislature will increase taxes on businesses and individuals.</p>

<p>SACRAMENTO (AP) - California's March ballot will contain at least two propositions - a $12.3 billion school bond measure and an initiative that would make it easier for lawmakers to approve state budgets on time, state election officials said Monday.</p>