Voters are looking for clarity with 17 propositions on the ballot this 2016 November election.
CALIFORNIA--As voters go to the polls or open up their absentee ballots, 17 ever intriguing propositions almost seem contradictory in nature when reading them.
Valley Black Talk Radio continues to break down the propositions for voters curious of the verbose language presented in each one.
With the help of political analyst, Steve Frank of the California Political News and Views, Valley Black Talk Radio Show hosts recap extensively on each proposition; take a look below at the thoughts of the hosts:
Proposition 51 (School bonds funding for k-12) On the ballot they claim this is a $9 billion bond. This is an $18 billion bond, when you add the interest to Wall Street.
VBTalk Radio’s Vote: VOTE NO ON PROP. 51
Proposition 52 (medi-cal hospital fee program) This is to allow hospitals to pay a fee and the money “goes” to Medi-Cal coverage. According to Frank, hospitals NEVER pay the fees—the private patients are charged MORE and the hospital passes the fee to the government. VBTalk Radio’s Vote: VOTE NO ON PROP. 52
Prop. 53 (Revenue Bonds) According to Steve Frank, this measure would mandate that if a government agency sells $2 billion or more in bonds for a project or project they will sell $2 billion or more over time for a project, the voters need to confirm the sale before it occurs. That part is great. The devil is in the details. Under this measure if an agency is part of a joint powers agreement they must get a public vote—statewide. The city of Simi Valley is under orders to upgrade our sewer system—it has some joint powers agreements. The cost could be between $2-3 billion. That means the people of Simi Valley get to vote for it—and the folks in Chico, Chino and El Centro. Simi Valley can turn it down, but if the folks statewide approve, we get stuck with the bill. Let them come back in 2018 with a clean measure.
The goal was to stop the financing of the choo choo to nowhere and the environmentally unsafe Delta Tunnel. The measure is supported by the California Republican Party and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. Well intended—but defective.
VBTalk Radio’s Vote: VOTE NO ON PROP. 53
Proposition 54 This measure brings transparency to the legislative process. It mandates a 72 hour period of being published before any measure can be voted on by the legislature. VBTalk Radio’s Vote: VOTE YES ON PROP. 54
Proposition 55 (tax extensions to fund education) According to Steve Frank, this measure expands Pro. 30 that passed in 2012 and expires in 2019. Prop. 30 raised taxes by $6 billion a year for seven years. Prop. 55 collects between $11 and $12 billion a year for twelve years. Allegedly the money goes to education—the same education that created a 54% real graduation rate in the Los Angeles school district. This is a $140 billion transfer of money from families and businesses to government.
VBTalk Radio’s Vote: VOTE NO ON PROP. 55
Proposition 56 (Cigarette Tax) According to Steve Frank, this is the $2 a pack added tax on cigarettes. The measure exempts itself from Prop. 98, meaning that every year approximately $600 million will NOT be going to schools. Only 13% will be spent on smoking reduction. In New York, per CNN, 60% of the cigarettes sold are black market—a whole new criminal industry was born due to the high taxes—kind of like Prohibition. VBTalk Radio’s Vote: VOTE NO ON PROP. 56
Proposition 57(criminal sentences) According to Steve Frank, this is the measure by Guv Brown to reduce sentences. Current law gives determinant sentences. Prop. 57 would allow a political appointed Parole Board to decide that if an inmate takes classes, visits the clergy and work with other they are allowed an early release.—if convicted of a “non-violent” crime. Under Prop. 57 the RAPE of an unconscious women is a NON VIOLENT crime. VBTalk Radio’s Vote: VOTE NO ON PROP. 57
Proposition 58 (English proficiency) This the “English Proficiency Act” which helps students to become proficient in English using methods that include teaching in their language. VBTalk Radio’s Vote: VOTE YES ON PROP. 58
Proposition 59 This measure tells members of Congress they can introduce a Constitutional Amendment to repeal the Supreme Court decision “Citizens United” which allowed corporations to donate in Federal election to Super PACS.
According to Steve Frank, this measure presupposes that California members of Congress are not smart enough to know they can introduce a repeal bill without a ballot measure or vote of the people. Total waste of time and tax dollars.
VBTalk Radio’s Vote: VOTE NO ON PROP. 59
Proposition 60 If you want to assure that porn actors—and those filming themselves at home having sex use a condom, this measure is for you. Los Angeles County already has such a law… Pornography is an $8 billion industry…there’s nothing else to be said. VBTalk Radio’s Vote: VOTE NO ON PROP. 60
Proposition 61 This measure mandates the State of California pay no more for drugs than the Veterans Administration pays. Note: the VA in their contracts with the drug companies have a confidentiality clause—they are not allowed to tell anyone what they are paying. California asked for the price lists and the VA turned them down. Now they are trying to use a ballot measure to get the Federal government to reveal their contracts. VBTalk Radio’s Vote: VOTE YES ON PROP. 61
Prop. 62 and Prop. 66 These measures are on the same subject. Prop. 62 outlaws the death penalty and converts the death sentence to “life in prison without a possibility of parole”. Of course that could change and the courts can change it by fiat. California has approximately 750 people on death row, only 13 executions since 1978.
VBTalk Radio’s Vote: VOTE YES ON PROP. 62
Prop. 66 ends some of the regulations, puts time limits on others and ends the frivolous lawsuits. VBTalk Radio’s Vote: VOTE NO ON PROP. 66
Proposition 63 This proposition would limit the number of rounds allowed in a magazine and includes background checks of those purchasing a gun.
VBTalk Radio’s Vote: VOTE YES ON PROP. 63
Proposition 64 With the passage of Prop. 47 in 2014 it has been de facto legalized, this just formalizes the common usage of marijuana. People will no longer go to jail for use of the substance. VBTalk Radio’s Vote: VOTE YES ON PROP. 64
Proposition 65 and Proposition 67 are on the same issue. According to Steve Frank, the grocers association spent a lot of money to pass a statewide ban on the use of plastic bags in grocery stores. They lobbied hard to outlaw these bags. This is one of those yes means no and no means yes measures on the ballot.
If you vote YES, that means you want to keep the statewide ban on plastic bags. If you vote NO, that means you want to end the statewide ban.
If defeated, more NO votes, the statewide ban is repealed—BUT, if your city or county has voted a ban,that stays in place—this only affects the statewide ban.
We agree with Steve Frank who supports Prop. 65 because: “the crony capitalist grocery association used lobbyists to make themselves $700 million a year by banning plastic bags and selling canvas and paper bags. Their effort was not for the consumer, it was for profit. The only way to punish them—and to show others we will not tolerate the use of government to steal from the public, is to vote YES on Prop. 65. The money will instead all go to environmental organizations…But, to make a point, this will be cheap in the long run. Vote to tell businesses that government cannot be used to profit at your expense—that is not the free market. VBTalk Radio’s Vote: VOTE YES ON PROP. 65
VBTalk Radio’s Vote: VOTE NO on Prop. 67
Watch the entire show for details and discussion on each proposition if there is more information needed for you to decide: