CA: Truth Squad report on the Showdown (Walnut Creek Town Hall - 10/24)

Contra Costa Times ^ | 10/25/05

[NormsRevenge]

During Monday evening's Special Election Showdown, readers joined a team of reporters in fact checking what both sides had to say. The Truth Squad told everyone when the Showdown participants lied, when they exaggerated and when they got it right.:

#1: Rose Ann DeMoro, head of the California Nurses Association, and Sen. Don Perata said the governor put Proposition 74 on the ballot to punish teachers.

The governor says he proposed the measure because he got complaints from parents that it was too hard to dismiss poorly performing teachers.

#2: Rose Ann DeMoro said Proposition 75 "tries to entangle the organization in bureaucracy." It's true that unions would have to get their members' annual written permission to use their dues for political purposes. But many union members say they think the union should ask for their permission before using their money on politics. A union poll done in August found that half of AFL-CIO members supported the proposition.

#3: Sen. Don Perata said Proposition 76 could result in a loss of $600 per student in K-12 education. This is true. But it's also true that it's up to Perata and the state legislature to ensure that schools get that money even if Proposition does not pass. The $600 is not guaranteed right now, since it is above the minimum funding schools currently get.

#4: Sen. Don Perata described Proposition 77 as "a power grab to put the power in the hands of the very few."

The measure has been endorsed by the national leadership of Common Cause, although the state organization is split over the measure. Proposition 77 is controversial because it calls for a mid-decade redistricting. Ordinarily new districts are drawn when the census is done every decade.

#5: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said "The broken system that we have now does not let us get rid of the bad teachers."

There is a system in place to fire poorly performing teachers, but critics, including the governor, say it takes too long. State law allows tenured teachers to be fired for unsatisfactory performance and other reasons, but the dismissal process includes about 12 stages and takes months or longer. Dismissed teachers are allowed to appeal firings in court.

Proposition 74 would eliminate the requirement that school districts give teachers 90 days to improve if they have received two consecutive unsatisfactory evaluations. It would also streamline the firing process by cutting down on written evaluations required for dismissals.

#6: The governor said Proposition 75 is not intended to silence unions in Sacramento.

He also said he did not sponsor the measure, he just endorsed it. However, the measure has been supported by his allies, including anti-tax activists and the state Republican Party. Those funding the measure have frequently been at odds with unions, which tend to align themselves with Democrats. Union members themselves have largely been absent from the campaign in favor of the measure.

#7: The governor said Proposition 74 is based on ideas that came from "the education leaders of the state."

He did not say which leaders he was talking about. However, statewide education leaders have opposed Proposition 74. Jack O'Connell, California's school superintendent, and California Teachers Association President Barbara Kerr are among the leaders who oppose the measure.

#8: The governor said, "If we had Proposition 76 10 years ago, this state would almost never have gone into bankruptcy."

The state has accumulated billions in debt and in the past has had its credit rating lowered by Wall Street, but it has not been in danger of going bankrupt.

#9: The governor said Proposition 76 "would protect local government. It would make us live within our means so we would have the money to always protect local government."

That is only partially true. The state collects billions of dollars in taxes that local governments use for local services and programs. Some of that money could be held in reserve if the state took in more money in a given year than Proposition 76's spending limit allowed it to spend.

#10: Gov. Schwarzenegger said cities and counties support Prop 76.

Yes, the League of California Cities voted Oct. 8 to endorse the measure, but by a narrow margin of 135-124. Big cities like Los Angeles opposed the measure, saying it would cut funding for schools.

The California Association of Counties also narrowly endorsed the measure but worried that counties could be on the hook for health care costs if there is not enough state money.

#11: California Democratic Party Chairman Art Torres said, "Prop 76 destroys" Proposition 98, the voter-approved measure that guarantees a minimum funding level for public schools and community colleges.

Partially true. Under Proposition 76, Proposition 98 would still remain, but the minimum guarantee could be ratched down over time.

A lower guarantee does not mean that actual spending for schools would necessarily be reduced. Lawmakers could still spend more than required by the minimum guarantee in any given year.

#12: Speaking about Proposition 77, the governor said, "The people will have the final say." While it’s true that voters will have the final say on the judges' redistricting plan, the new districts will be used in June, 2006, and November, 2006, before voters can approve them. Voters will weigh in on the plan in the November, 2006, election.

[Alia]

The Sacred Cow of Unions... is the Nurses Unions. Folks only bring up the Education Unions.

But.. the nurses unions are a wicked story all their own. The details on who gets paid for what and how, whether they work or not.. grr. Pay for Nurses in CA is... OUTSTANDING. Perks, Vacations, Education, etc.

Truly, it is the CA Nurse Ratcheds which DOES deserve to be looked into -- especially...

...since "CA DEMS" are proposing a "universal health care system" for California.... and they are already starting their platform spin..for elections...

and by golly.. it goes all the way back to Hillary's "Health Care Plans" done in secret. It spread to the Dental Industry.

My, My...

[pogo101]

Mostly this is fine, but sometimes the liberal writers bend over backwards to spin against the measures:

The state has accumulated billions in debt and in the past has had its credit rating lowered by Wall Street, but it has not been in danger of going bankrupt.

Uh, only because states cannot, legally go bankrupt AT ALL. There simply is no provision in the bankruptcy code for a state to petition for bankruptcy protection. Even the rarely-used Chapter 9 only applies to subdivisions OF states, e.g., County of Orange.

See how the left can lie without lying? "No danger of bankruptcy" ... because bankruptcy is technically impossible for a state. Cute.