Other view: No on Prop. 76

Sac Bee ^ | 10/21/05 | Craig Brown

[NormsRevenge]

Despite the governor's best efforts to sell Proposition 76 as the cure for what ails our state's budget process, it isn't. Instead, it's a direct assault on our democratic system of checks and balances. It would deliver a crushing blow to our public schools and could devastate state funding for local health care, transportation and public safety.

Proposition 76 makes major changes in California's constitution, dramatically expanding the governor's power over the state budget and giving him the authority to cut spending for schools, public safety, health care, transportation and other programs "of the governor's choosing," without voter approval or legislative oversight. He need only declare a "fiscal emergency" to exercise this sweeping new executive power, the threshold for which is "not particularly high," according to an independent review by the Legislative Analyst's Office.

A report by the California Budget Project says Proposition 76 "would significantly broaden the governor's power and eliminate the Legislature's ability to determine which laws should remain in force." The governor would be free to use the budget to reward friends or punish enemies, and the Legislature would be powerless to stop him.

Even if you agree with this governor, what about future governors? Do we really want to give one person almost dictatorial control over state spending, with no legislative oversight or accountability? Dictatorships may be more efficient, but they don't make for better budget making, not in a democracy where spending priorities need to be carefully balanced and fully debated.

--snip--

An analysis by the California State Association of Counties warns that Proposition 76 is poorly written and "contains serious drafting errors that will result in unintended consequences that will have a severe fiscal impact on counties."

[NormsRevenge]

Craig Brown served as California's director of finance under Gov. Pete Wilson.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

ping

[edcoil]

Proposition 76. Live Within Our Means.

Stops the politicians from spending more tax dollars than the state of California has. Stabilizes education funding.

California Republican Party position: Vote Yes.

[captainblacksmith]

You've got to love the "About the Writer" blurb that says he was Wilson's finance director.

More recently Craig Brown has been a lobbyist for the Correctional Peace Officer's Association, and SacBee has reported that he has received $592,000 in lobbying fees since 1999.

I'm pretty conservative, but give me $592,000 and I'll vote for nearly anything. And I'll write letters to newspapers for that too!

[NormsRevenge]

Pete Wilson is one of the Gub's advisors too.

[NormsRevenge]

Prop. 76 prompts a fear of cuts ^

[martin_fierro]

PROP	Desc                                                  ARNIE	MCCLINTOCK	SHKN SURVEY
73	Teen abort waiting period.............................YES.......YES.............PICK
74	Pub school Teachers Waiting Period....................YES.......YES.............PICK
75	Pub Employee Union Dues Pol Contribs..................YES.......YES.............WINNING
76	State spending limits.................................YES.......YES.............LOSING
77	Redistricting.........................................YES.......YES.............PICK
78	Prescrip Drug Discounts (initiative statute)..........YES.......NO..............WINNING
79	Prescrip Drug Discounts (state-negotiated rebates)....NO........NO..............LOSING
80	Regulation of Electric Service Providers..............NO........NO..............LOSING

[captainblacksmith]

To recap, here are the propositions Schwarzenegger needs to get passed. I usually vote no on all propositions, but this time the governor has shown good leadership on these.

74 - Teacher Tenure
75 - Political use of Union Dues
76 - Spending Limit
77 - Redistricting

[NormsRevenge]

Thank ye.

[calex59]

If it delivers a crushing blow to our public schools I am all for it.

[calcowgirl]

That poll also shows that more than 1/2 of republicans oppose Prop 76 (rightly so, IMO).


http://www.knowledgenetworks.com/ganp/docs/appendix%20to%2010-17-2005%20Hoover-KN%20press%20release%20V2.pdf

[A CA Guy]

If 76 goes down, then the Governor considers that the people voting instead to raise their own taxes over cutting spending.

[calcowgirl]

If 76 goes down, then the Governor considers that the people voting instead to raise their own taxes over cutting spending.

That is utterly ridiculous. There are many reasons to oppose Prop 76. It authorizes borrowing and doesn't reduce spending. He campaigned on a platform to CUT, CUT, CUT. It is due time he be held to those promises and Prop 76 does little to advance that. His threats to raise taxes are a scare tactic to get voters to pass the measure without understanding the fine print.

Proposition 76 - A Conservative Argument for Voting "NO"

[calcowgirl]

From the San Diego Union-Tribune:

"The key is not to crank government spending down,"
said Tom Campbell... "It's just to spend no more than we have."

Note to Campbell: existing law already prevents spending more than we have.
But you need a Constitutional Amendment to authorize more borrowing, hence you need Prop 76. NO more borrowing.

NO on Proposition 76.

[A CA Guy]

Thanks Calcowgirl, I'll look into this for sure.