California Proposition 82, Free Half-Day Public Preschool Program (June 2006)
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If Proposition 82 had been approved, it would have created a free, voluntary, half-day public preschool program available to all 4-year olds. To pay for the program, the State of California would have imposed a new tax on high-income individuals. The new tax would have applied to individuals earning over $400,000 annually, and to couples earning over $800,000 annually.
Proposition 82 was proposed by movie producer Rob Reiner, leading to the opposition tactic of calling their campaign "Stop the Reiner Initiative - No on 82".[1].
Election results
| Proposition 82 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
 No | 3,036,283 | 60.8% | ||
| Yes | 1,958,243 | 39.2% | ||
Constitutional changes
If Proposition 82 had been approved, it would have added three entirely new sections to three different articles of the California Constitution.
Specifically, it would have:
- Added a new Section 4 to Article IX of the California Constitution.
- Added a new Section 14 to Article XIII B of the California Constitution.
- Added a new Section 8.3 to Article XVI of the California Constitution.
Text of measure
Title
The ballot title was:
Question
The question on the ballot was:
- "Should the California Constitution and state law be amended to create and support a new, publicly funded, voluntary preschool program for children to attend in the year prior to kindergarten, to be funded by an increase in personal income tax rates for high income individuals?"
Summary
The official summary provided to describe Proposition 82 said:
- Establishes a right to voluntary preschool for all four-year old children.
- Funded by a 1.7% tax on individual incomes above $400,000; $800,000 for couples.
- Administered by the state Superintendent of Public Instruction and county school superintendents.
- Directs counties to prepare reports on curricula, outreach, facilities, childcare coordination, budgeting, teacher recruitment and pay.
- Limits administrative expenses; requires program audits.
- Requires state Superintendent to develop a preschool teaching credential with financial aid for credential students.
- Excludes revenue from appropriation limits, Proposition 98 calculations.
Fiscal impact
- See also: Fiscal impact statement
The fiscal estimate provided by the California Legislative Analyst's Office said:
- Increased state revenues of about $2.1 billion in 2007–08, growing annually with the economy to around $2.6 billion in 2010–11, when the preschool program would be open to all 4-year olds in the state.
- Revenues would be used solely for new state preschool program and would be spent to run the program, pay for facilities, train teachers, and provide an operating reserve.
Support
Supporters
In addition to Reiner, Proposition 82 was supported by the California Teachers Association, Service Employees International Union, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the California Democratic Party, among others. Altogether, over $14 million was spent to pass the measure.[2]
The official voter guide arguments in favor of Proposition 82 were signed by:
- Barbara E. Kerr, President, California Teachers Association
- Steve Krull, President, California Police Chiefs Association
- Edward Condon, Executive Director, California Head Start Association
- Mary Bergan, President, California Federation of Teachers
- Shelbi J. Wilson, 2006 California Teacher of the Year
- Robert Black, MD, American Academy of Pediatrics, California
Donors
A total of $16,007,809 was spent advocating for a "yes" vote on Proposition 82.[3]
Larger donors included:
- Rob Reiner, who gave over $2.9 million;[4]
- Jon Stryker of Kalamazoo, Michigan, who gave $100,000;
- Tim Gill of Denver, Colorado, who gave $50,000;
- Pat Stryker of Fort Collins, Colorado, who gave $1,000,000;
- Peter Lewis of Mayfield Village, Ohio, who gave $250,000;
- Al Franken, a talkshow host from Minneapolis, Minnesota, who gave $5,000;
- Movie producer Steven Spielberg, who gave $25,000;
- George Soros, who gave $25,000.
- Herbert M. Sandler, who gave $150,000.[5]
- SEIU: $1.5 million
Opposition
Opponents
The official voter guide arguments opposing Proposition 82 were signed by:
- Dr. Tom Bogetich, Retired Executive Director, California State Board of Education
- Pamela Zell Rigg, President, California Montessori Council
- Patricia Armanini, Third Grade Teacher, San Rafael
- Larry McCarthy, President, California Taxpayers Association
- Thomas L. Sipes, Director, Montessori Schools of Petaluma
- Chris Simmons, 2003 Teacher of the Year, Glendale Unified School District
Donors
Two campaign committees were formed to oppose Proposition 82 ("Stop the Reiner Initiative No on 82" and "Californians To Stop Higher Taxes") and together they spent a total of $10,820,024.
Larger donors to the opposition committees included:
- Baron Real Estate: $700,000
- William K, Bowes, Jr.: $500,000
- California Chamber of Commerce: $451,000
- Cypress Management Co.: $450,000
- John J. Fisher: $403,041
- John M. Pasquesi: $350,015
- Charles B. Johnson: $300,000
- Franklin P. Johnson, Jr.: $251,320
Path to the ballot
- See also: California signature requirements
Proposition 82 got on the ballot through a paid petition drive conducted by Kimball Petition Management. As an initiated constitutional amendment, 598,105 qualifying signatures were required. The total paid to Kimball Petition Management for the petition drive was $1,616,569.[6]
External links
- Official Voter Information Guide : Proposition 82
- PDF of the mailed June 6, 2006 voter guide for Propositions 81 and 82
- June 6, 2006 ballot proposition election returns
- Proposition 82 on the Smart Voter Guide
- Analysis of Proposition 82 from the Institute of Governmental Studies
- Guide to Proposition 82 from the California Voter Foundation
- Summary of donors to and against 82 from Cal-Access
- Donors for and against Proposition 82 from Follow The Money
References
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