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The $46-Billion Questions Await State's Voters(Have at it, Californians!)
Los Angeles Times ^ | September 8, 2006 | Michael Finnegan

Posted on 09/08/2006 5:58:29 AM PDT by kellynla

Up and down the November ballot, Californians face choices about vast sums of money: how much to spend, how much to borrow, how much to generate by raising taxes.

Together, the proposals would open a $46-billion gusher of spending on highways, schools, levees, hospitals, housing, parkland and more. They would add $84 billion in debt and interest to state budgets over the next 30 years. Taxes, mainly on oil and tobacco, would rise by more than $3 billion a year.

The torrent of money on the ballot gives voters a chance to set California's fiscal course for decades: They could reaffirm the state's reputation for clamping restraints on public spending, launch a new era of activist government or opt for something in between.

With television ad skirmishes already underway, a key question is whether the sheer magnitude of the total spending risks eroding support for many, if not all, of the ballot measures. All 13 hold fiscal implications for California.

"It looks like people are getting inundated with separate spending requests," said Democratic pollster David Binder, whose surveys and focus groups have found growing voter resistance over the last decade to bond proposals. "My sense is that they all are going to suffer to some degree."

Squabbles over taxes and spending also have been the main conflict in the race between Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his Democratic challenger, state Treasurer Phil Angelides, making fiscal priorities the dominant theme of the California election season.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Government; US: California
KEYWORDS: bonds; calbondage; calelection; calinitiatives; election; prop1abcde
Los Angeles Times' take on the propositions.

Proposition 1A: Would protect the state gas tax from being used for anything but transportation improvements, except in the case of severe economic hardship. Requires loans of sales tax revenues to be repaid within three years.

Proposition 1B: A $19.9-billion bond issue for transportation and safety projects. It would cost about $38.9 billion over 30 years, counting interest.

Proposition 1C: A $2.8-billion bond issue to provide housing and emergency shelters. The bond would cost an average of $204 million per year over its 30-year life.

Proposition 1D: A $10.4-billion bond to relieve public school crowding and repair old schools. The bond would cost the state $20.3 billion in principal and interest.

Proposition 1E: A $4.1-billion bond to rebuild and repair flood control structures. It would cost $8 billion over 30 years.

Proposition 83: Increases penalties for violent and habitual sex offenders. Net costs would be up to $200 million annually within 10 years, and potentially several hundred million dollars more in construction costs.

Proposition 84: A $5.4-billion bond to pay for water, flood control, park and conservation projects. It would cost $10.5 billion over 30 years to finance the bond.

Proposition 85: Prohibits abortion for unemancipated minors until 48 hours after a physician notifies a parent or guardian, except in an emergency or with a parental waiver. Would potentially cost several million dollars annually for health and social services programs.

Proposition 86: Imposes an additional tax of $2.60 per pack of cigarettes on top of the current 87 cents. Would increase state revenues for health programs and children's health coverage.

Proposition 87: Establishes a $4-billion program to reduce petroleum consumption through incentives for alternative energy. Would increase state oil tax revenues but also cause reductions in other revenues in the tens of millions of dollars annually.

Proposition 88: Imposes a $50 tax on each property parcel to increase funding for schools serving kindergarten through 12th grade.

Proposition 89: Provides public financing of campaigns through a 0.2% increase in taxes on corporations and financial institutions.

Proposition 90: Bars state and local governments from condemning or damaging private property to promote other private projects. It would require "potentially significant" increases in government payments to property owners.

Source: California secretary of state

Los Angeles Times

1 posted on 09/08/2006 5:58:30 AM PDT by kellynla
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To: calcowgirl; NormsRevenge; Ernest_at_the_Beach

ping


2 posted on 09/08/2006 5:59:31 AM PDT by kellynla (Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots! Semper Fi!)
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To: kellynla

I would not be surprised if all of these measures pass. A few years ago, CA was almost bankrupt. Californians have a short memory.


3 posted on 09/08/2006 6:08:32 AM PDT by SMM48
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To: SMM48

don't be so sure, no matter what people think,
elections & propositions are turned on the registered Independent voter(almost 20%).


Our problem is not revenue. According to Tom McClintock last week, our revenue has increased 23%. The problem is that spending has increased 29%.

Unfortunately, we will have to wait another four years to elect a true blue conservative governor of this state.


4 posted on 09/08/2006 6:17:03 AM PDT by kellynla (Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots! Semper Fi!)
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To: kellynla

In 4 years, we will be having joint elections for CA and Mexico - no conservative will get elected.


5 posted on 09/08/2006 6:23:04 AM PDT by edcoil (Reality doesn't say much - doesn't need too)
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To: kellynla
Proposition 1D: A $10.4-billion bond to relieve public school crowding and repair old schools. The bond would cost the state $20.3 billion in principal and interest.

If you want to relieve the crowding in public schools, enforce the immigration laws. That would clean them right out.

6 posted on 09/08/2006 6:26:16 AM PDT by A_perfect_lady
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To: A_perfect_lady

"If you want to relieve the crowding in public schools, enforce the immigration laws. That would clean them right out."

THANK YOU!


7 posted on 09/08/2006 6:29:23 AM PDT by kellynla (Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots! Semper Fi!)
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To: kellynla
Proposition 1A: Prop 42 Change              NO
Proposition 1B: Transportation Bonds        NO
Proposition 1C: Housing Bonds               NO
Proposition 1D: School Bond                 NO
Proposition 1E:  Flood Control Bond         NO
Proposition 83: Jessica's Law               Maybe
Proposition 84: Water Bond                  NO
Proposition 85: Parental Notification       YES
Proposition 86: Cigarette Tax               NO
Proposition 87: Oil Tax                     NO
Proposition 88: Parcel Tax                  NO
Proposition 89: Campaign Finance            NO
Proposition 90: Stop Eminent Domain abuse   YES

8 posted on 09/08/2006 6:57:22 AM PDT by calcowgirl ("Liberalism is just Communism sold by the drink." P. J. O'Rourke)
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