California 2010 ballot propositions
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| Part 1: Overview | |
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14 statewide ballot propositions were on the ballot in California in 2010, including five measures on the June 8 primary election ballot and nine measures on the November general election ballot. Altogether, six propositions were approved and eight were defeated.
Of the 184 ballot measures on statewide ballots nationally in 2010, eight of the 10 ballot propositions that attracted the most spending were from California.
On the ballot
June 8:
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Proposition 13 | Taxes | Exempts construction to seismically retrofit buildings from property tax reassessment |  |
| LRCA | Proposition 14 | Elections | Adopts a two-two primary system | |
| LRSS | Proposition 15 | Elections | Repeals the state ban on public funding of campaigns; creates a program to publicly fund Secretary of State campaigns for the 2014 and 2018 elections; creates a biennial fee of $700 on lobbyists, lobbying firms, and lobbyist employers |  |
| CICA | Proposition 16 | Elections | Prohibits a local government from incurring any debt or expending public funds to expand electricity delivery services and prohibits local governments from becoming an aggregate electricity provider without a two-thirds supermajority vote of approval from voters in the local government's jurisdiction and voters within the territory that would be served | |
| CISS | Proposition 17 | Regulation | Allows car insurance companies to decrease or increase rates based on a driver's history of continuous car insurance coverage | |
November 2:
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CISS | Proposition 19 | Marijuana | Legalizes recreational marijuana for individuals 21 years of age and older; requires marijuana establishments to pay federal, state, and local taxes that are currently assessed on other similar businesses; allows state and local governments to impose additional taxes and fees | |
| CICA | Proposition 20 | Elections | Transfers the power of congressional redistricting from the California State Legislature and the governor to the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, which was created by Proposition 11 of 2008 | |
| CISS | Proposition 21 | Taxes | Creates an $18 surcharge to vehicle registration fees and dedicating revenue from the surcharge to state parks and wildlife programs | |
| CICA | Proposition 22 | State spending | Prohibits the state from redirecting property tax revenues from local jurisdictions and using fuel tax revenue to pay for transportation bonds, even in the case of a fiscal emergency | |
| CISS | Proposition 23 | Environment | Suspends Assembly Bill 32 (AB 32), which required greenhouse gas emissions to be reduced to 1990 levels by 2020, until California's unemployment rate decreases to 5.5% or less for four consecutive quarters | |
| CISS | Proposition 24 | Taxes | Repeals 2008 and 2009 tax laws that allowed corporations to lower their tax liability through transferring operating losses to prior years, sharing tax credits among affiliated corporations, and changing the tax calculation for multi-state businesses | |
| CICA | Proposition 25 | State spending | Changes the requirement to pass the state budget from two-thirds to a simple majority vote of the legislature and requiring legislators to forfeit pay when they do not pass a state budget on time | |
| CICA | Proposition 26 | Taxes | Increases the vote requirement needed to impose certain new taxes and fees by the state legislature and local governments from a simple majority to a two-thirds supermajority vote | |
| CICA/SS | Proposition 27 | Elections | Repeals a 2008 ballot measure that established a citizens commission for legislative redistricting and returning the power of redistricting to the state legislature | |
Getting measures on the ballot
Legislative referrals
The California State Legislature may refer constitutional amendments to the ballot with a two-thirds (66.67%) vote in each chamber.
The legislature can refer statutes and bond issues with a simple majority vote, but the governor's signature is also required.
In California, changes to voter-approved ballot initiatives need to be referred to voters for approval or rejection unless the changes further the initiative's purpose.
Initiatives
The number of valid signatures for citizen-initiated measures in California are based on the votes cast for governor in the last gubernatorial election, which are held every four years. Initiated constitutional amendments require 8% of that total while initiated state statutes and veto referendums require 5%. The requirements for each type in 2010 were as follows:
- Initiated constitutional amendment (ICA): 694,354
- Initiated state statute (ISS): 433,971
- Veto referendum (VR): 433,971
Campaign spending
Through June 2, a cumulative total of $70 million was spent advocating for and against the 5 propositions on the June ballot.[1] A combined $147 million was spent by proposition supporters and opponents on their campaigns for and against the nine ballot initiatives on the November 2 California ballot.[2]
72 campaign committees registered with the California Secretary of State's office, as per the guidelines set out in campaign finance requirements for California ballot measures, as taking a pro or con position on one or more of the state's 2010 statewide ballot propositions.
Of the 72 registered campaign committees, nine committees registered as having a position on two propositions. One committee registered as having a position on 3 propositions, and two committees registered as having a position on four propositions.
31 "yes" positions were registered by the campaign committees, while 59 "no" positions were registered.
17 of the 72 registered committees reported that they received no contributions.
The top five donors to the propositions that were on the November 2, 2010 ballot were:[3]
| Donor | Amount | Proposition(s) |
|---|---|---|
| California Teachers Association and its parent, the NEA | $13,703,624 | 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 |
| Charles T. Munger, Jr. & Charlotte A. Lowell | $12,633,523 | 20, 27 |
| Thomas Steyer & Kathryn Taylor | $6,099,000 | 23, 26 |
| California & American Federations of Teachers | $5,387,240 | 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 |
| Valero Services, Inc. | $5,075,315 | 23 |
Cost of signatures
| Ballot measure | Subject | Signature collection company | Cost | Signatures required | CPRS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposition 16 | Elections | Arno Political Consultants | $2,199,794 | 694,354 | $3.17 |
| Proposition 17 | Regulation | National Petition Management | $2,273,745 | 433,971 | $5.23 |
| Proposition 19 | Marijuana | Masterson & Wright | $987,833 | 433,971 | $2.27 |
| Proposition 20 | Elections | National Petition Management | $1,937,380 | 694,354 | $2.79 |
| Proposition 21 | Taxes | Masterson & Wright | $1,144,515 | 433,971 | $2.64 |
| Proposition 22 | State spending | Progressive Campaigns | $1,646,596 | 694,354 | $2.37 |
| Proposition 23 | Environment | National Petition Management | $2,222,312 | 433,971 | $5.12 |
| Proposition 24 | Taxes | Kimball Petition Management | $1,587,363 | 433,971 | $3.65 |
| Proposition 25 | State spending | Kimball Petition Management | $2,626,808 | 694,354 | $3.78 |
| Proposition 26 | Taxes | National Petition Management | $2,341,023 | 694,354 | $3.37 |
| Proposition 27 | Elections | Kimball Petition Management | $3,031,085 | 694,354 | $4.37 |
| TOTAL: | $21,998,454 |
Local ballot measures
- See also: California 2010 local ballot measures
Californians voted on local ballot measures, including local recall measures, on 15 dates throughout 2010. 479 local ballot measures (not including recall measures) were presented to voters in 52 of California's 58 counties.
- February 2 • February 23 • March 2 • March 9 (recall only) • April 13 • May 4 • May 25 • June 8 • June 15 • June 22 • July 13 • August 24 • August 31 • September 21 • November 2
The six counties that had no local measures in 2010 were Alpine, Calaveras, Lake, Mariposa, Tehama and Trinity.
Not on the ballot
Initiatives
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CISS | Photo ID to Vote (5) | Elections | Requires presenting government-issued photo ID to vote | Missed 2010 deadline |
| CICA | Wealth Tax | Taxes | Increases taxes for those with incomes above a certain amount, creates Environmental Superfund | Missed 2010 deadline |
| CISS | Human Trafficking | Law enforcement | Creates penalties for human trafficking | Missed 2010 deadline |
| CISS | Lotteries/Schools | Education | Increases allocation of lottery proceeds to schools | Missed 2010 deadline |
| CICA | Re-Write Constitution | Constitution | Revises the California Constitution | Missed 2010 deadline |
| CISS | Ballot Title Reform | Elections | Changes the way that ballot titles are written for California initiatives | Missed 2010 deadline |
| CISS | Voter Information Guide | Elections | Revises requirements for and availability of Voter Information Guides for ballot propositions | Missed 2010 deadline |
| CISS | Alcohol Tax | Taxes | Imposes a new tax on alcohol sold in California | Missed 2010 deadline |
| CISS | Auto Insurance | Regulations | Repeals mandatory auto insurance | Missed 2010 deadline |
| CICA | Congressional Redistricting | Redistricting | Transfers redistricting authority to a commission | Missed 2010 deadline |
| CISS | Environmental Reports | Tort law | Provides that only the Attorney General of California can challenge an Environmental Impact Report | Missed 2010 deadline |
| CISS | Taxpayer Protection (Lomax) | Taxes | Changes state tax laws | Missed 2010 deadline |
| CISS | Flood Insurance | Insurance | Concerns flood insurance | Missed 2010 deadline |
| CICA | Community Hospitals (7) | Taxes | Prohibits state from taxing community hospitals unless certain requirements are met | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Corporate Property Tax Increase | Taxes | Reassesses commercial property tax rates every three years | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Funds for Public Schools | Education | Increases taxes on real estate owned by corporations | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Public Pension Reform (2) | Labor | Creates different pension benefits for newly-hired public employees versus existing public employees | Missed deadline |
| CISS | Pension Limits | Labor | Limits pension payments new government employees will receive when they retire | Missed deadline |
| CISS | Corporate Donations (2) | Elections | Prohibit corporations from giving money to political campaigns unless corporate shareholders approve | Missed deadline |
| CICA | School Choice for Foster Children | Education | Authorizes school vouchers for California's approximately 50,000 foster children | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Spending Limits (2) | State spending | Creates a Taxpayer Bill of Rights-style limitation on government spending | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Local Control (2) | Taxes | Lowers the required majority vote on parcel taxes from 67% to 55% | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Parental Notification | Abortion | Requires parental notification prior to a minor having an abortion | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Tax Reform | Taxes | Revises California's tax laws | Missed deadline |
| CISS | Legislator Recusal | State legislature | Prohibit state legislators from voting on bills that impact their campaign donors | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Right to Call Convention | Constitution | Creates a right for voters to petition for a constitutional convention | Missed deadline |
| CISS | Convention Call | Constitution | Asks whether or not California should hold a constitutional convention | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Ban on Political Deductions | Labor | Bans deducting money for political activities from public employee paychecks | Missed deadline |
| CISS | Paycheck Protection | Labor | Prohibits deducting union dues from public employee paychecks without written consent | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Taxes End at Age 55 | Taxes | Exempt those over 55 from state income and property taxes | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Education Tax Relief | Taxes | Prohibits property, sales, and income taxes for Article 9, Section 5 schools | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Parental Protection | Education | Provides that parents have authority over the education of their children | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Grassroots Initiative Reform | Direct democracy measures | Changes laws governing the initiative process in California | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Illegal to Lie when Campaigning | Elections | Imposes criminal penalties on those who lie in the course of campaigning | Missed deadline |
| CISS | Insurance Discrimination | Regulation | Creates new rules about what insurance companies can do with their rates | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Definition of Person | Abortion | Defines "person" to apply to all living human organisms from the beginning of their development | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Exercise of Religion (2) | Religion | Provides that individuals can freely advocate for opinions they draw from their reading of the Bible | Missed deadline |
| CISS | Stop Insurance Overcharges | Regulation | Provides that insurance customers cannott be charged more if they pay on an installment basis | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Marriage Equality | Marriage | Repeals Proposition 8 | Missed deadline |
| CISS | Divest from Israel | Admin of gov't | Prohibits public fund investments in businesses that do business with Israel | Withdrawn |
| CICA | No Divorces Amendment | Marriage | Prohibits divorces | Aiming for 2012 ballot |
| CICA | Citizen Legislature | Legislature | Requires state legislature to be part-time rather than full-time | Missed deadline |
| CISS | Christmas Songs Sung in Schools | Education | Allows public school students to sing Christmas songs | Missed deadline |
| CISS | If Undocumented, No Benefits | Immigration | Requires that applicants for government aid must be documented residents | Withdrawn |
| CICA | Budget Reform | Taxes | Requires the state budget to be approved by 60% supermajority rather than 2/3rds supermajority | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Legislative honor | Legislature | Requires state legislators to read laws before voting on them | Missed deadline |
| CISS | Drug Testing for Legislators | Legislature | Requires drug and alcohol testing for state legislators | Missed deadline |
| CISS | Life Insurance Tax | Taxes | Creates a tax on employer-beneficiary life insurance benefits | Missed deadline |
| CICA | End Two-Thirds Requirement | Taxes | Eliminates the requirement that budgets be approved by 2/3rds vote of the legislature | Withdrawn |
| CICA | Sales Tax Increase | Taxes | Increases the state sales tax by 1% to fund education | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Penalties for No Budget | Gov't admin | Creates penalties for legislators and the governor if no budget is passed | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Repeal of Prop 8 | Marriage | Repeals Proposition 8 | Missed deadline |
Referrals
These ballot measures were proposed in the California State Legislature, which ultimately did not vote any of them onto the November ballot. See Amending the California Constitution for an outline of how the California legislature can begin the process of amending the state's constitution through the legislative referral process.
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | ACA 13 | Direct democracy measures | Gives the state legislature the right to change initiated constitutional amendments after signatures are collected |
| LRCA | ACA 20 | Direct democracy measures | Provides that the California Legislative Analyst's Office would write ballot titles instead of the attorney general |
| LRCA | ACA 21 | Direct democracy measures | Requires a 2/3rds vote rather than a simple majority to approve ballot initiatives |
| LRCA | SCA 16 | Direct democracy measures | Provifes that fewer signatures would be needed for initiatives if first reviewed by legislature |
| LRCA | SCA 2 | State legislature | Splits legislative sessions so that one year would be for budgeting and one year would be for new legislation |
| LRCA | Prison, University Funding | Spending | Guarantees 10% of the state budget would be allocated to California universities, decreases prison funding |
| Budget Best Practices | Spending | Requires goals and performance measurements to be specified for programs in governor's budget proposals | |
| LRCA | Expensive Initiatives | Spending | Requires ballot initiatives that propose to spend government funds to specify a revenue source |
| LRCA | Revenues for Bond Proposals | Spending | Requires initiative bond proposals over $1 billion to specify a revenue source |
See also
- 2010 ballot measures
- List of California ballot measures
- Laws governing ballot measures in California
External links
Footnotes
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