California voters in a "no" mood
May 1, 2009
SACRAMENTO, California: With the Tuesday, May 19 statewide special election just around the corner, California's voters seem poised are reject five of the six budget-focused measures on that ballot.[1]
According to the Field Poll released at the end of April, only one of the six ballot propositions on the May 19 ballot is supported by a majority of voters. However, that is small consolation for state legislators who voted to put the budget propositions on the ballot since the only popular measure is Prop 1F -- which denies salary increases to members of the California State Legislature in certain budget-related circumstances.[2]
The Democratic majority in the state legislature struck a deal in February with the Sacramento Six (Villines, Niello, Adams, Maldonado, Ashburn and Cogdill) to make up the state's multi-billion budget deficit with a combination of tax increases, education spending and funds transfers.
By nearly a 3-to-2 margin, polling shows that the state's voters oppose higher taxes. 70% want to retain the two-thirds majority needed to pass a budget, although there is a move afoot to try to repeal it.[3]
In the midst of voter uncertainty and opposition, there was more bad news for the state legislature's budget plan when the state's April tax collections came up $1.8 billion short of projections.[4]
In the face of growing opposition to the budget measures, the board of the Los Angeles Unified School District has withdrawn a resolution endorsing Prop 1A, Prop 1B and Prop 1C.[5]
See also
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Footnotes
- ↑ Fresno Bee, "Voters wary of Proposition 1A measure to limit spending," May 1, 2009
- ↑ Times-Standard, "May ballot measures appear in trouble," May 1, 2009
- ↑ San Francisco Chronicle, "An angry, conflicted electorate," May 1, 2009
- ↑ San Francisco Chronicle, "Uh oh -- state tax collections fall $1.8 billion short," May 1, 2009
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "L.A. school board backs away from endorsing ballot measures," April 29, 2009
