This was an odd election here in California. Democrats took every statewide office from Governor to Insurance Commissioner, but the majority of the propositions that the Democratic party endorsed failed at the ballot. So let’s take a look at those:
Prop. 19 – Legalize Marijuana – Failed – The war on drugs really does need to end. This isn’t the end of the argument though. I’m sure Assemblyman Tom Ammiano will introduce his pot legalization bill again in 2011. The Secretary of the State has also stated that younger people voted ‘yes’ on the proposition 2 to 1. Eventually, prohibition 2.0 will end and we’ll all be a lot freer for it.
Prop. 20 – Redistricting of Congressional Districts – Passed – The brand new Citizen’s Districting Commission will now be in charge of drawing congressional districts in the state. I’m not for this as, we voters, have no control over the commission. In addition, the commission has yet to be set up or have any guidelines or rules written up for it. It has no track record. I don’t know how I feel about giving an experiment that much control.
Prop. 21 – State Park Funding. Vehicle License Surcharge – Failed – I can tell you right now that funding for state park’s isn’t going to be in the next budget and so they the state’s park system will continue to deteriorate. I thought this was a reasonable way to fund the park system and encourage Californian’s to take advantage of the beautiful state they live in.
Prop 22. – Prohibit State from Taking Some Local Funds – Passed – Thought the budget was hard to pass before? Tired of having education funding raided? Then you should have voted ‘no’ on this proposition. Legislator’s next year will find their options for balancing the budget even more limited…
Prop 23 – Suspend Air Pollution Law – Failed – Finally, one goes my way! California’s visionary Air Pollution Control Law (AB 32) will be implemented. This is the first piece of legislation in the nation that attempts to address the issue of global climate change.
Prop 24. – Repeal Allowance of Lower Business Tax Liability – Failed – Large, multi-state, corporations and businesses can continue to use accounting tricks and gimmicks to avoid paying taxes.
Prop 25. – Simple Majority Vote to Pass Budget – Passed – If this proposition had passed and Prop. 22 and 26 had failed then actual budget reform could have started, but that didn’t happen. So, now while the budget can be passed on a simple majority vote, as long as it doesn’t carry any taxes in it, that budget can’t include borrowing from local governments, transportation funds, and can’t include fees of any sort. How likely do you think that is?
Prop. 26. – 2/3 Vote for Some State/Local Fees – Passed – When people think fees they probably think the fee they pay on gas or for their car. They don’t want to pay more for those things which is understandable. That isn’t what Prop. 26 is about though. This proposition will make it difficult to insure industrial polluters pay for the harm they do. So who will have to pay for it? The taxpayer! Congratulations Californians! Corporate polluters now don’t have to clean-up their messes because you’ll do it for them. I wonder where we’ll get the money to do that…
Prop. 27. – Eliminate State Redistricting Commission – Failed – The commission will continue to exist and has even more power now with the passing of prop. 20. I worry that the commission will be co-opted by one special interest or another and gerrymandering will continue, except now, voters have no control over it. I realize they only had a small amount of control before, but it was something.
It’s going to be interesting next year, the Democratic controlled legislature will be working with a democratic governor. The redistricting commission will begin drawing new “competitive” districts throughout the state, and we’ll all trudge along and see how this election changes California. As always I remain cautiously optimistic, though that might be delusion
