My sample ballot and voter information guide (191 pages) have arrived for the upcoming Nov 7th election, so its time to start looking into the many different propositions that will be on the ballot. Here's what will be on the ballot in my district with links to some resources about them:
Proposition 1A: Transportation Funding Protection
Should the California Constitution be amended to further protect the state sales tax revenues for transportation purposes from general-purpose use and require any funds borrowed to be repaid to the transportation fund?
Proposition 1B: Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality, and Port Security
Should the state sell $19.9 billion in general obligation bonds to fund state and local transportation improvement projects to relieve congestion, improve movement of goods, improve air quality, and enhance safety and security of the transportation system?
Proposition 1C: Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act of 2006
Should the state sell $2.9 billion in general obligation bonds to fund housing for lower-income residents and development in urban areas near public transportation?
Proposition 1D: Kindergarten-University Public Education Facilities
Should the state sell $10.4 billion in general obligation bonds to fund repair and upgrade of public schools, including kindergarten through grade 12, community colleges, and state universities?
Proposition 1E: Disaster Preparedness and Flood Prevention
Should the state sell $4.1 billion in general obligation bonds to finance disaster preparedness and flood prevention projects at the state and local levels?
Proposition 83: Sex Offenders. Sexually Violent Predators. Punishment, Residence Restrictions and Monitoring.
Should California amend existing laws relating to violent and habitual sex offenders and child molesters to increase penalties and monitoring?
Proposition 84: Water Quality, Safety and Supply. Flood Control. Natural Resource Protection. Park Improvements.
Should the state issue $5.4 billion in bonds for a wide variety of projects related to water safety, rivers, beaches, levees, watersheds, and parks and forests?
Proposition 85: Waiting Period and Parental Notification Before Termination of Minor's Pregnancy.
Should the California Constitution be amended to require notification of the parent or legal guardian of an unemancipated pregnant minor at least 48 hours before performing an abortion?
Proposition 86: Tax on Cigarettes
Should the state impose an additional tax of $2.60 per cigarette pack to fund new and expanded health services, health insurance for children, and expand tobacco use prevention programs?
Proposition 87: Alternative Energy. Research, Production, Incentives. Tax on California Oil Producers
Should California establish a $4 billion Clean Alternative Energy Program to reduce California's oil and gasoline consumption by 25 percent through incentives for alternative energy, education, and training?
Proposition 88: Education Funding. Real Property Parcel Tax
Should the California Constitution be amended to levy an annual $50 real property tax on most parcels with the funds allocated to five K-12 education programs?
Proposition 89: Political Campaigns. Public Financing. Corporate Tax Increase. Campaign Contribution and Expenditure Limits
Should eligible candidates for state elective offices receive public campaign funding that is supported by new taxes on corporations and financial institutions, and should contribution limits be imposed on those candidates that do not receive public campaign funding?
Proposition 90: Government Acquisition, Regulation of Private Property
Should the California Constitution be amended to require government to pay property owners for substantial economic losses resulting from some new laws and rules, and limit government authority to take ownership of private property?
Local Measures
Measure A: Land Use Initiative -- County of Santa Clara (Majority Approval Required)
Shall the County General Plan be amended to reenact and modify certain existing provisions and add provisions for hillsides, open space, ranchlands, and rural areas in unincorporated areas of the County, including limiting minimum parcel size on ranchlands and hilltops to 160 acres, with exceptions, limiting building size, and prohibiting the Board of Supervisors from making changes to the General Plan inconsistent with these amendments?
Measure F: Amend General Plan -- City of Morgan Hill (Majority Approval Required)
Shall an ordinance be adopted to amend the Morgan Hill General Plan and Municipal Code Residential Development Control System to allow 100 additional residential allotments for projects of up to 25 units within the Downtown Core; and allowing earlier starts and completions for projects located within the Downtown RDCS Boundary allotted in March 2006; provided that all projects are consistent with the Downtown Plan and meet minimum RDCS scores?
Guides
League of Women Voters Easy Voter Guide (Propositions)
Smart Voter.org
Endorsements
Speak Out California (lists endorsements from Speak Out, Cal Nurses, CLCV, CA Now, Sierra Club, CA Dems, and Cal Labor Fed)
Democratic Party Endorsements
California League of Conservation Voters endorsements