It's special election time again in California. How will you vote?

[Oerdin]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

Since we're leaving the state I really wouldn't care but for the fact that we have six grandchildren here. Thankfully, three others have "escaped" the madness and live elsewhere.

Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

[Oerdin]

Originally Posted by NorthSDLifer

Highest income and sales tax. Second highest gas tax to NY. I saw this on an updated graphic at msn.com or msnbc.com. Property taxes are lower, yes, but we have a high cost of housing. From listening to KFI, I know that the anti-tax crowd claims we are much higher than middle of the pack, often citing CA as 6th highest.

That's because fake right wing astroturf groups like "The American Enterprise Institute", which does not do any independent research and instead is simply a propaganda arm of the GOP, only look at one specific tax, the state income tax. Where as the actual academic study I linked to looked at the total average tax load; meaning all taxes and mandatory fees.

In other words if you look at the whole picture instead of disingenuously picking and choosing data to make political points then California is very much middle of the pack. 10.3% compared to the US average of 10.1%. Yes, the cost of living is higher mainly because the cost of land is higher because so many people want to live here; I'd say that is an entirely separate issue from the average tax rate though.

[Oerdin]

Schwarzenegger vows to campaign for ballot props

Scwarzebegger begging people to vote yes on initiatives.

[Oerdin]

These individuals and organizations are listed on the website of Budget Reform Now as supporting one or more of Proposition 1A, Proposition 1B, Proposition 1C, Proposition 1D, Proposition 1E, and Proposition 1F. For a full list of supporters please visit the coalition website at the bottom of this page.

Important note: The information in parentheses after listed names or organizations indicates which of the statewide May 19 ballot propositions the group or individual supports. If it says "all", they support 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, and 1F.
Public Safety

* California Fire Chiefs Association (All)
* California Police Chiefs Association (All)
* California State Sheriffs’ Association (All)
* Peace Officers Research Association of California (All)
* California District Attorneys Association (All)
* California Peace Officers’ Association (All)
* Chief Probation Officers of California (All)
* California Narcotics Officers’ Association (All)
* California Coalition of Law Enforcement Associations (All)
* California Probation, Parole and Correctional Association (All)
* Fire Districts Association of California (All)
* California Asian Peace Officers Association (1A, 1B, 1C, 1F)
* Los Angeles County Professional Peace Officers Association (1A, 1B, 1C, 1F)
* Sheriff Lee Baca, County of Los Angeles (1A, 1B, 1C)
* Sheriff William Kolender, County of San Diego (All)
* San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis (All)
* San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael Ramos (All)

Local Government

* League of California Cities (All)

Seniors

* California Senior Advocates League (1A)

Labor

* California Alliance for Jobs (Labor and Management Association All)
* California State Council of Laborers (All)
* California Conference of Carpenters (All)

Agriculture

* California Farm Bureau Federation

Education

* California Teachers Association (All)
* California Retired Teachers Association (1A, 1B, 1C, 1F)
* Association of California School Administrators (1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E)
* California State University Board of Trustees (1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E)
* University of California Board of Regents (1A)
* California Business for Education Excellence (1A, 1C)
* Small School Districts’ Association (1A, 1B, 1C, 1F)
* Dr. Glen W. Thomas, California Secretary of Education (1A, 1C)
* Jordan Brandman, Trustee, Anaheim Union High School District (1A, 1B, 1C, 1E, 1F)

Taxpayers

* California Taxpayers Association (1A)
* Taxpayers Association of Central California (All)
* Orange County Taxpayers Association (1A, 1E, 1F)

Ethnic

* California State Conference of the NAACP (All)

Business groups

* California Chamber of Commerce (All)
* California Business Roundtable (All)
* California Retailers Association (All)
* California Black Chamber of Commerce (All)
* California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce (All)
* California Retailers Association (All)
* Silicon Valley Leadership Group (All)
* Bay Area Council (All)
* Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce (All)
* San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce (All)
* San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce (All)
* Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce (All)
* Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce (All)
* Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (All)
* Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (All)
* Small Business Action Committee (1A, 1B, 1D, 1E, 1F)

Health

* California Hospital Association (All)
* California Children's Hospital Association (All)
* California Association of Physician Groups (All)
* Association of Regional Center Agencies (1D)

Elected officials

* Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (All)
* Darrell Steinberg, Senate President pro Tempore (All)
* Karen Bass, Speaker of the California State Assembly (All)
* Michael Villines, Assembly Republican Leader (All)
* Dave Cogdill, California State Senator (All)
* Bill Jones, Former Secretary of State (1A)
* Steve Westly, Former State Controller (All)
* Abel Maldonado, California State Senator (1F)
* Tom Campbell, Former Director, Dept. of Finance, Former U.S. Congressman, Former California State Senator (1A)
* Fred Keeley, Treasurer, County of Santa Cruz and Former Speaker pro Tem, California State Assembly (All)
* Charlene Zettel, Former California State Assemblymember (1A, 1C)
* Chet Reilly, Kingsbury City Council (All)

[Oerdin]

Here's a pdf of the state issued voting guide: http://www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov/pdf...ence-guide.pdf

[happ]

Originally Posted by Oerdin

Schwarzenegger vows to campaign for ballot props

Scwarzebegger begging people to vote yes on initiatives.

It's about time! But both parties also must get the word out to the voters to support the governor's initiatives otherwise this election will be ignored & rejected. It seems like Schwarze'begger' is a bit slow-mo. Frankly, who can blame Arnold for being tired after the state legislature argued all year over the budget.

[NorthSDLifer]

Originally Posted by Oerdin

Here's a pdf of the state issued voting guide: http://www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov/pdf...ence-guide.pdf

Is that where it doesn't bother to mention the two-year tax extension?


Oops, I was wrong. My bad.

[alanbmx]

no on all propositions
just say no to all of this insanity
we elected our Gov to not do this what a sell out

[1AngryTaxPayer]

After reading more information I am likely to vote NO on all of them too. This from the UT pretty much sums it up. Maybe a yes on 1F

---
San Diego Union Tribune
Regarding “Hot Seat” with Sen. Denise Moreno Ducheny (April 30):
I had been running hot and cold on the propositions, especially 1A. I liked the idea of some spending limits and a rainy-day fund, but I have been afraid that if it were approved by voters, the Legislature would find a way around it or just ignore it.
After reading the answer Ducheny gave to the second question, where she said “Any discussion of what may happen is premature until after the election and the May revenue forecast, I would not try to predict actions by a future Legislature . . . ,” I no longer have a question. Her answer makes it plain that if she, as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, thought more taxes were needed that she would not rule them out based on Proposition 1A. And then move to the extortion of 1C, 1D and 1E.
That settled it for me. I am voting No on 1A-1E. I will vote for 1F in the hope of at least sending the Legislature a message that it's not earning its pay, let alone when there is no budget passed. I know it is a futile gesture because it is long past worrying what the electorate thinks----