California Proposition 1B (May 2009)
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Prop 1B was part of the 2009-2010 California state budget and tax increase agreement.[2],[3]
- Yes: 1,834,242 (38.1%)
- No: 2,975,560 (61.9%)
Proposition 1B would have mandated supplemental payments of $9.3 billion to schools and community colleges. This figure is the difference between the amount actually appropriated in recent budgets, and the amount that, under some interpretations of California Proposition 98 (1998), should have been spent. If approved by a popular vote majority, the measure will only be enacted if California Proposition 1A (May 2009) also wins. That proposal would allow an extension of tax increases imposed as part of the Fiscal Year 2009-2010 budget agreement, resulting in an additional tax increase of some $16 billion. [4]
Background
The measure arose out of a dispute in late 2008 between Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration and state public school system interests regarding various interpretations of California Proposition 98 (1998), which uses complex and somwhat ambiguous formulas to mandate certain levels of state spending on schools and community colleges. [4] Under the terms of a Fiscal Year 2009-2010 state budget and tax increase agreement:
- Schools and community colleges will be given supplemental payments of $9.3 billion beginning in the 2011-12 fiscal year.
- The payments are contigent on an extension of the 2009 budget deal tax increases that California Proposition 1A (May 2009) would authorize if it is approved.
Proposition 1A is one of seven statewide ballot propositions placed on the May 2009 ballot. Six of these are part of the 2009-2010 California state budget and tax increase agreement (Propositions 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E and 1F). They are intended to close an approximately $42 billion gap between desired spending and expected revenues. In absolute terms, however, as of March, 2009 projections, when the budget deal's $10 billion tax increase and the $5 billion in borrowed money proposed by Proposition 1C are included, total general fund spending in the 2009-2010 budget will only decline by around 2 percent, from $94.089 billion to $92.206 billion.[5] However, the nonpartisan California Legislative Analyst's Office which is the source of those figures, also said in early March that tax revenues flowing into the state treasury are "well below" the projections it used earlier in the year, and that California's government now faces an additional $8 billion gap betweeen expected revenue and the amount appropriated. [6]
Supporters
Proposition 1B is supported by the California Teachers Association school employees union [4], and by "Budget Reform Now," a coalition of special interest groups assembled by the Governor to support the overall 2009-2010 budget agreement and tax increases.
On April 26, the California Democratic Party, meeting in its annual convention, endorsed Proposition 1B.[7]
Donors
The California Teachers Association donated $2 million to the campaign to pass Proposition 1B in late March.[8]
Opponents
The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association strongly opposes Proposition 1A, passage of which is required for this measure to go into effect.
Some special interest groups representing individuals who benefit from state spending in other non-education areas oppose the measure, because it would potentially divert their preferred government spending to education. These include:
- California Nurses Association
- American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.[9]
- Peace and Freedom Party
Polling information
- The Field Poll conducted a public opinion research survey between February 20 and March 1 on Proposition 1B and the other five budget-related measures that will appear on the May 19 ballot.[10],[11]
- A Public Policy Institute of California poll that concluded in late March showed declining support for Proposition 1B.[12],[13]
- On April 20-21, SurveyUSA conducted a poll of 1,300 California adults for KABC-TV Los Angeles, KPIX-TV San Francisco, KGTV-TV San Diego, and KFSN-TV Fresno. 15% of the registered voters they spoke with had already cast their vote. They concluded that for Proposition 1B, "support is flat, but opposition is up 12 points from an identical SurveyUSA tracking poll 6 weeks ago."[14]
- Field conducted a second poll between April 16-26 that indicates that "voters strongly oppose" five of the six budget measures on the May 19 ballot, including Prop 1B.[15]
| Date of Poll | Pollster | In favor | Opposed | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 20-March 1 | Field | 53 percent | 30 percent | 17 percent |
| March 10-17 | PPIC | 44 percent | 41 percent | 15 percent |
| March 11-12 | SurveyUSA | 38 percent | 30 percent | 32 percent |
| April 20-21 | SurveyUSA | 37 percent | 42 percent | 22 percent |
| April 16-26 | Field | 40 percent | 49 percent | 11 percent |
| April 27 - May 4 | PPIC | 40 percent | 47 percent | 13 percent |
| May 8-10 | SurveyUSA | 41 percent | 50 percent | 10 percent |
| May 15-17 | SurveyUSA | 37 percent | 54 percent | 9 percent |
Media opinions
Yes on 1B
- The San Francisco Chronicle, which says, "Requires the state to make $9.3 billion in supplemental payments to K-12 schools and community colleges, starting in 2011-12, if Proposition 1A is passed."[16]
No on 1B
Media endorsing a "no" vote on Proposition 1B include:
- The Los Angeles Times, which wrote, "It could ratchet up the autopilot spending that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says he's trying to stop."[17]
- KSBW-TV, which said that Prop 1A and 1B are "no more than a hocus-pocus twosome of unintended consequences waiting to happen."[18]
- La Prensa San Diego, which says, "Fix Prop. 98 and take away the Governor’s ability to suspend education payments to the school districts and there won’t be a need for Prop. 1B."[19]
- The Ventura County Star, which says, "It just another in a long line of voter initiatives that has led to California’s current budget fiasco, with voters locking in spending and automatic increases with no concern about fiscal impacts later on. It does not address the current state budget shortfall."[20]
External links
Center for Government Studies Review of 1B |
Basic information
- Ballot title, summary and analysis
- Arguments in favor and against in the official Voter's Guide
- Text of Proposition 1B
- California Secretary of State's announcement about May 19 ballot measures
- Institute of Governmental Studies Library Hot Topic: Proposition 1B
- California Voter Foundation Guide to Proposition 1B
Supportive websites
- Yes on 1B
- Budget Reform Now, official website in favor of Prop 1B
- Campaign finance reports of Budget Reform Now
- Campaign finance reports of "Yes on 1B"
Opponents
References
- ↑ Sacramento Bee, "Angry voters whack budget, politicians", May 20, 2009
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "With budget stalemate over, next move is up to California voters", February 20, 2009
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "May 19 election deadlines already drawing near", February 20, 2009
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Capitol Weekly, "Budget crisis spawns uneasy election alliance between governor,teachers", March 5, 2009
- ↑ 2009 Budget Act General Fund Budget Summary With All Budget Solutions, Legislative Analyst's Office, updated March, 2009
- ↑ San Diego Union-Tribune, "State budget springs a leak", March 14, 2009
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "State Democrats decline to endorse 3 of 6 ballot measures", April 27, 2009
- ↑ Sacramento Bee, "Teachers give $2 million toward Proposition 1B", March 25, 2009
- ↑ Mercury News, "Support, opposition for May ballot propositions", March 25, 2009
- ↑ Sacramento Bee, "Field Poll shows early backing for budget items on ballot", March 4, 2009
- ↑ Field Poll results for initial polling on six budget measures on May 19 ballot
- ↑ Sacramento Bee, "Budget ballot measures face uphill fight", March 26, 2009
- ↑ Public Policy Institute of California, "Special Election Ballot Propositions Face Tough Road", March 25, 2009
- ↑ SurveyUSA, "One Month From California Special Election, Opposition Grows to 5 of 6 Ballot Measures", April 22, 2009
- ↑ Sacramento Bee, "Field Poll: California voters oppose five of six May 19 ballot measures", April 19, 2009
- ↑ San Francisco Chronicle, "The Chronicle Recommends: May 19 election", April 27, 2009
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Yes on 1A, 1C, 1D, 1E and 1F", April 26, 2009
- ↑ KSBW-TV, "Editorial: California’s Special Election"
- ↑ La Prensa San Diego, "California Special Election Recommendations", May 1, 2009
- ↑ Ventura County Star, "Star Editorial Board positions on ballot propositions", May 17, 2009
