I have done what few voters will do. I have read Propositions 30 and 38, the Brown and Munger tax hike initiatives, in their entirety — twice. They are long and comprehensive but well written, and I like them both. Their main goals are to rescue our K-12 school children from recent devastating cuts by imposing tax hikes on the rich.
Proposition 30 (Brown's) also adds funding for community colleges and public safety programs. Proposition 38 adds money for preschools and to pay off state debt. Both initiatives, however, have what is sometimes called a poison pill clause. It states that if both initiatives pass, only the one with the highest number of votes will go into effect.
It is a shame that the two authors could not come together on a single initiative, because they have created a problem. Many voters prefer one over the other. If too many voters decide to pick and choose this way, the pro-student vote may be divided and neither initiative will pass. Our students will be served well by either initiative. The results of neither passing would be tragic for schools. I am encouraging voters to vote for both of them.
Another good revenue producer, including for schools, is Proposition 39. It eliminates a corporate tax loophole by requiring multi-state businesses to calculate their California income tax liability based on a percentage of their sales in California. It is estimated to bring in about one billion dollars annually. Income will be deposited in the Clean Energy and Job Creation Fund. The money will be spent on projects that create jobs in California, improving energy efficiency and expanding green energy production in schools and public buildings and to assist local PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) programs. Although a similar bill is in the legislature (AB1500), there it would require a two-thirds majority to pass. With the above initiatives, only a majority is needed.
I, of course, have to give a thumbs-up on Proposition 37. I helped gather signatures for this one. Prop 37 requires that all raw or processed genetically modified foods for sale to consumers be labeled as such.
I would like to make a short comment on the budget just passed. Although devastating to social services, it did have a few environmental positives. Our state parks apparently have been saved. The Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources, which received 18 new positions, has been required to produce fracking regulations by January 2014. Also adding new employees (75) is the Delta Habitat Conservation and Conveyance Program, aimed at restoring the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. (The threat of the Peripheral Tunnel is still there, however). The Department of Toxic Substance Control has received some funding to implement the Green Chemistry Program, which requires the department to identify possible chemicals of concern in consumer products, to regulate the dangerous ones and to evaluate alternatives. They have 80,000 chemicals on their list but only enough funding to operate at a snail's pace.
We need $2000 to get a ballot statement on the November ballot in San Luis Obispo County. We are short of that and need it by August 10th. Contributions should be made out to Manata for Assembly and mailed to Manata for Assembly, c/o PRDC, P.O.Box 1074, Paso Robles, Ca 93447
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