CA: Tom McClintock on the Propositions

Tom McClintock Website ^ | October 18th, 2008 | Tom McClintock

[calcowgirl]

Prop. 1A High Speed Rail Bond.  NO
This is the most outrageously expensive boondoggle in California’s long history of outrageously expensive boondoggles.  The ultimate cost of this project could end up exceeding $90 billion – or $10,000 per family – all for a train that goes from Los Angeles to San Francisco in two hours longer than it takes to fly.  It’s brought to you by the same folks who botched Boston’s “Big Dig.”  (I’m one of the official opponents of this measure.)

Prop. 2 Farm Animals.  NO
Sorry, but farm animals are food, not friends.  Plan on somewhat happier cows and much higher grocery bills if this one passes.

Prop. 3 Hospital Bond. NO
Here’s a rather cynical measure that uses children as a front in order to lavish taxpayer funds on private hospital corporations.

Prop. 4 Parental Notification.  YES
Parents must give written consent before their teenage daughters use a tanning booth or get their ears pierced.  This measure simply requires them to be notified if their daughter is having an abortion.

Prop. 5 Non-violent drug offenses.  NO
The fatal flaw in this otherwise decent measure would allow criminals to use their drug offense for leniency for other non-drug-related crimes.

Prop. 6 Police and Law Enforcement Funding. YES
This is a tough call.  My favorite provision is prohibiting the release on bail of illegal aliens charged with violent crimes.  Its principal purpose is to lock up an increasing portion of the state budget for local law enforcement.  Law enforcement should be government’s top priority, but I don’t like auto-pilot spending or using state resources for local programs.  I also don’t like its weakening of the hearsay rule.  On balance I think it does more good than harm, but it’s a very mixed bag.

Prop. 7 Renewable Energy Subsidies.  NO
This will send electricity prices through the roof.  It requires the most expensive energy generation to comprise 20 percent of our electricity needs.  Government should get out of the way and let simple economics determine the mix of energy generation in this state.

Prop. 8 Defense of Marriage Act. YES
Marriage is a unique institution in which a man and a woman summon a child into the world – creating a unique tapestry of responsibilities.  Our marriage laws are designed to support those responsibilities and are simply inapplicable to any other kind of relationship.  Lincoln asked, “If you call a tail a leg, how many legs has a dog?  The answer is four.  Calling a tail a leg doesn’t make it one.”  And calling a homosexual partnership a marriage doesn’t make it one.

Prop. 9 Parole Reform. YES
This requires the victim to be considered when a suspect’s bail is being set or a criminal’s parole is being determined.  About bloody time.

Prop. 10 Fuel Subsidies.  NO
This $5 billion bond will cost taxpayers $10 billion with interest to subsidize “alternative fuel vehicles” and “renewable energy.”  I’m all for alternative fuel vehicles and renewable energy as long as the consumers who want them pay for them.  But don’t reach into my pocket to pay for somebody else’s choice.

Prop. 11 Redistricting.  YES
This should be the all-time no brainer: voters should choose their politicians and not the other way around.  This measure takes redistricting out of the hands of the legislature, removing an obvious conflict of interest.

Prop. 12 Veterans Bond Act.  YES
This is a self-liquidating bond (meaning taxpayers aren’t on the hook) to assist veterans with home purchases.  The state has done this for many years and it has never cost taxpayers a dime.  I co-authored this one.

 

[goldstategop]

And what do you dislike about about taking redistricting out of the hands of the politicians who now choose their own voters every decade?

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[calcowgirl]

Done!

[goldstategop]

I no longer live in California. But I agree its usually a good idea to vote opposite the Los Angeles Times recommendations. More often than not, people just give them the finger.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[AndyTheBear]

Cool, saves me some research.

[rivercat]

Sounds good, but I may go Yes on 2 and No on 6, but I’m not sure yet. I still don’t get why you’d vote against 11, we lost Pombo because of their idiotic redistricting.

[calcowgirl]

I’d add the animal one in as a yes... It’s unhealthy to eat mistreated or sick animals.

If you think so, don't eat them. Buy free range.

This is but another law in California that will just drive the cost up or push production out of state--or out of country.

Next we'll only be able to purchase meat from Mexico. I'm sure that will be an improvement. /s

[Brad’s Gramma]

Yeeeeehaw Bump!

Thanks!

[Randy Larsen]

After further review...I don’t trust prop 6!

I’ll vote no on prop 6!

Sorry for my back and forth, but I know I read somewhere on Calvoter that they whant to attach increases to a % of the budget! I can’t find it right now though...

[ER_in_OC,CA]

selfping

[Yaelle]

I only eat free range or grass fed organic, true. You do have a point, I’ll grant you that, but I still might vote yes on that one.

[calcowgirl]

we lost Pombo because of their idiotic redistricting.

They haven't redrawn the lines since 2000. Redistricting didn't lose him the race, IMO. He lost because he was targeted, nationwide, by the Democrats and got only nominal support from the moderate bunch of Pubbies that are supporting this redistricting effort.

BESIDES--THIS redistricting does NOT affect Congressional seats. It is for State offices only. Can you name a Assy or Sen district that was lost due to redistricting? Remember, all the leftist districts are still protected by the Voting Rights Act and maintaining "communities of interest."

[diamond6]

Cool. Thanks for posting.

[papasmurf]

Please, Lord, more than anything, please let Prop 4 pass.

[rivercat]

Really? somehow I missed that, and I’ve read the actual proposition! What’s the point of only doing State offices? Ugh... We can always expect our idiot politicians to mess things up.
Pombo’s seat was put at risk when they redrew his district out into the Livermore Valley. When they didn’t knock him off the first time, then they went after him on a national scale.

[rivercat]

and 8!

[calcowgirl]

Here's the ballotpedia summary. In addition to saying this will cost AN ADDITIONAL $$$$ 1/2 BILLION per year $$$$, it says:

Proposition 6 would:

• Require new state spending on various criminal justice programs, as well as for increased costs for prison and parole operations. This funding would come from California's General Fund, reallocating funds currently spent on K-12 Education, Higher Education, Health and Human Services, Business, Transportation and Housing, and Environmental Protection [1]

• Deems any youth 14 years or older who is convicted of a gang-related felony as unfit for trial in a juvenile court and prosecuting these youths as adults.

• Necessitate that all occupants who are recipients of public housing subsidies submit to annual criminal background checks and lose housing if convicted of a recent crime.

• Increase penalties for several crimes, including violating gang injunctions, using or possessing to sell methamphetamine, or carrying loaded or concealed firearms by certain felons.

• Eliminate bail for illegal aliens charged with violent or gang-related felonies.

• Establish as a crime the act of removing or disabling a monitoring device affixed as part of a criminal sentence.

• Change evidence rules to allow use of certain hearsay statements as evidence when witnesses are unavailable.[2]

• Requires a majority vote to add

• Require a 3/4 vote to amend.

[calcowgirl]

There is a group pushing redistricting that didn't like it when the California Congressmen (R) came out against it last year. They saw it for what it was--a move to snuff out conservatives. The proposition doesn't say that it doesn't include national offices, they are just absent from the description. Sneaky, huh?

Changes authority for establishing Assembly, Senate, and Board of Equalization district boundaries from elected representatives to 14 member commission.

[Randy Larsen]

Thank You!

Now I have to find out why I have the info I have!

[cdbull23]

Bump!

[onedoug]

Though I suspect CalVet is one of the few state programs which actually earns some return on its investment.

My wife and I own a home through CalVet.

And I'd bet they weren't hit by this so-called mortgage crisis at all.