FIELD POLL: Preschool issue losing support, poll finds [Meathead's Prop 82]

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 4/19/6 | Mark Martin

[SmithL]

Prop. 82's margin has fallen in past few months, even among Democrats -

A ballot initiative that would raise income taxes on the wealthy to provide free preschool for every 4-year-old in California remains ahead in a new statewide poll, but the lead is shrinking.

Fifty-two percent of likely voters say they will support Proposition 82 on the June ballot, while 39 percent oppose the measure and 9 percent are undecided, according to a Field Poll released today. The new numbers show the proposition is losing support and the June result is likely to be very close, said Field Poll director Mark DiCamillo.

A poll published in February showed Prop. 82 enjoying a bigger lead, 55 percent in favor to 34 percent opposed.

The new poll also provided a few other ominous signs for the proposition's supporters: Among likely voters who said they were aware of the issue before being polled, the lead was only 49-46 percent, and DiCamillo noted that support among registered Democrats, who still overwhelmingly support the measure, has fallen since February.

Seventy-three percent of Democrats favored Prop. 82 in February, while 16 percent opposed it, compared to 67 percent in favor to 24 percent opposed now. Because the June ballot is expected to draw a heavy Democratic turnout due to the gubernatorial primary, the slight decline could become important if that trend continues, DiCamillo said.

"Most of the decline is coming on the Democratic side, which is significant,'' he said.

The trend showing less support for Prop. 82 in the Field Poll has been echoed in surveys taken by the Public Policy Institute of California, which recently found a larger drop. That poll showed 52 percent of likely voters supported the initiative last month,...

[SmithL]

[Gordongekko909]

That's right, Arnold. Tax those wealthy clean out of the state. Heed the words of Lady Thatcher: eventually, socialists run out of other people's money to spend.

[Gabz]

I hope the meathead gets his head handed to him over this fiasco..........and I don't even live in California.

[SmithL]

Schwarzenegger announces opposition to preschool initiative
AP-San Luis Obispo Tribune ^ | Apr. 12, 2006 | JULIET WILLIAMS

Posted on 04/12/2006 3:36:10 PM PDT by calcowgirl

SACRAMENTO - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is opposing a June ballot initiative promoted by director Rob Reiner that would raise income taxes on the rich to pay for universal preschool, his campaign team said Wednesday.

"Put simply, the governor does not support tax increases and is opposed to Proposition 82 because it will raise taxes," said his communications director, Katie Levinson.

[Kenny Bunkport]

Everyone opposes this because it respresents a tax increase, but the main reason to oppose it is to prevent a public program from brainwashing kids at an even younger age.

[Gordongekko909]

In that case, never mind. I withdraw my criticism of Governor Arnold.

[Rick_Michael]

We can't even make our public schools better, what makes you think adding to it will make it better?...rhetoric

[calcowgirl]

Lets hope it continues to slide in popularity.
Here is a link to the poll info:

http://field.com/fieldpollonline/subscribers/RLS2196.pdf

[SmithL]

There's plenty to criticize the Governator about. But every now and then, he comes down on the right side of the issue. Which is what separates him from Davis, Angelides, and Westly.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Everyone opposes this because it respresents a tax increase, but the main reason to oppose it is to prevent a public program from brainwashing kids at an even younger age.

Co-main reason is to prevent more union money being raised as a result of more union teachers being hired, which in turn gets funneled into more money for left-winger campaigns and left-wing causes.

[CounterCounterCulture]

[1Old Pro]

Everyone opposes this because it respresents a tax increase, but the main reason to oppose it is to prevent a public program from brainwashing kids at an even younger age.

Ya Think?

C L I F T O N P A R K
Teacher makes energy conservation a way of life

Local resident advocates for reducing waste, improving efficiency
BY PAM ALLEN Gazette Reporter


   Energy conservation represents more to Joanne Coons than recycling a few cans and bottles, or buying environmentally friendly light bulbs.
   The earth science teacher at Shenendehowa High School West wastes almost nothing — even the cold water from her shower nozzle is recycled — and Coons and one of her students spent Tuesday demonstrating how she processes old restaurant oil into fuel for her car.
   For about two years, the resident of Vischer Ferry has been recycling the used vegetable oil into fuel for her 2003 diesel Volkswagen Jetta. The process requires Coons and her husband, Paul, to mix the old oil, methanol and lye in a 55-gallon drum to produce the biofuel.
   Coons and a student, Ashley Dorch, spent the day promoting the recycling process at the 36 th annual Capital Region Earth Day Celebration in Albany. The day-long event at Quackenbush Square is sponsored by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
   In addition to the biodiesel fuel presentation, the pair offered a demonstration featuring a "Watts Up Meter," which measures the amount of energy used by different types of light bulbs.
   "It was great. We had a lot of fun," said Coons, who also founded High School West’s chapter of Students Concerned About ‘R’ Environment, or SCARCE, in 2003, and continues to supervise the approximately 12-member club.
   Several club members had planned to attend Tuesday’s event, but vacations and other commitments prevented them from attending, Coons said.
   The club’s first project was recycling cans and bottles in the classrooms of the school. From there, the project expanded to the cafeteria. A company comes regularly to pick up the recyclables.
   "It removes garbage from the main waste stream," Coons said.
   Another club project involved building a large pond for High School West’s outdoor courtyard, in which the running water and waterfall are powered by a solar cell.
   Students in the club learn about how fossil fuel emissions contribute to ozone depletion and global warming, and explore ways to use renewable energy as an alternative.
   Education and conservation are the keys to solving the planet’s environmental issues, said Coons, who is knowns as a "key leader" in the NY Energy Smart Students Program, an education program started two years ago that integrates energy into basic curricula.
   The Shenendehowa teacher oversees workshops on biodiesel fuel, and the training is then used by teachers in the classroom, said Todd Rogers, spokesman for the program.
   "She’s been with us from the beginning," he said.
   Coons is investigating ways to use vegetable oil to heat her home. Right now, the family uses solar panels to produce electricity.
   Their Jetta gets 45 miles per gallon, and the fuel costs between 40 and 60 cents to make. In colder weather, the biofuel must be mixed with diesel fuel. The couple collects the used vegetable oil from participating restaurants once a week.
   During a recent test run, initial emissions from the Jetta smelled like donuts.
   Recently, the SCARCE club worked on hydrogen-powered model cars, and have entered a car in the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association being held May 11 through 14 at the Saratoga Car Museum.
   Sophomore April Jeffries, 16, joined the club in her freshman year. She started attending the meetings at the urging of her brother, Steve, who is also a member of the club.
   At first, she said, she was going because she didn’t have any a f t e r - s c h o o l a c t i v i t i e s o n Wednesdays, when the club meets.
Now, after realizing the ecology club provides information that has proven helpful in her endeavor to become a meteorologist and climatologist, she plans to stay in the club until she graduates.
"I really like it now," she said.
The club will also participate in a discussion about the stewardship of water on May 4 at the
Envirothon at Saratoga State Park.
Joanne Coons, an earth science teacher at Shenendehowa High School West,discusses the amount of energy used by light bulbs during the Capital Region Earth Day Celebration on Tuesday.
ANA ZANGRONIZ/ GAZETTE PHOTOGRAPHER

ANA ZANGRONIZ/GAZETTE PHOTOGRAPHER Gerard Chartier of Albany, left, listens to Joanne Coons explain how her bio-diesel Volkswagen Jetta works during Capital Region Earth Day festivities on Tuesday.

[Kenny Bunkport]

Ditto that.

[bpjam]

Maybe we should just tax people who work in the entertainment industry to pay for pre-school. No, entertainment industry RICH people, AND anybody working in a government union in the top tax bracket, oh, and also EVERY SINGLE ELECTED OFFICIAL IN SACRAMENTO.

[bpjam]

How about just making the annual dues to renew your law license $25,000? That way, the attorneys would be paying for the new programs and all we would need would be more attorneys in order to expand the program!! The lawyers are the ones who make it possible for cretins like Reiner to even put crap like this on the ballot so its time they contributed their 'fair share.'

[boop]

Or, since an actor wants this, make the tax only apply to SAG members. Imagine the howls you'd hear from Martin Sheen. The AUDACITY of making liberal actors put their money where their mouth is.

[bpjam]

I'd sneak back into California and vote for it myself. I'm sure they never removed my old registration since they don't care about voter integrity.

I'd propose passing a special tax on SAG, AFTRA, Directors, Writers and any other professional association in Hollywood AND the California Bar for everybody who makes more than $36,000 a year (if you remember, that is what Clinton/Gore' first budget considered 'rich' and raised taxes on).