(June 8, 2010) The California Chamber of Commerce is urging its members to vote in today’s primary election.
The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. In order to be counted, vote-by-mail ballots must be returned to an elections official in the voter’s county of residence no later than 8 p.m. today. Ballots received after the polls close cannot be counted regardless of postmarks.
CalChamber Positions
The CalChamber has taken the following positions:
Yes on Proposition 13: Limits on Property Tax Assessment. Bars property tax increases on construction for seismic retrofits. Sets statewide standard for seismic retrofit improvements that qualify.
Reasons for Position
Proposition 13 promotes equity among taxpayers who reconstruct or improve structures to comply with local ordinances relating to seismic safety. The measure also eliminates the disparate treatment between seismic safety improvements made to different types of property.
Yes on Proposition 14: Increases Right to Participate in Primary Elections. The California Top Two Candidates Open Primary Act changes the primary election process for congressional, statewide and legislative races. Allows all voters to choose any candidate regardless of the candidate’s or voter’s political party preference. Ensures that the two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes will appear on the general election ballot regardless of party preference.
Reasons for Position
Proposition 14 will increase voter participation and empowers Californians in all state legislative districts to elect candidates who represent the broadest views in their district.
The way political districts are drawn now, most have a majority or more of voters registered in one major party or another. Consequently, the candidate who wins the primary of the majority party in the district is virtually guaranteed to win election to the state Legislature or Congress in the general election. It is not uncommon for the winner of a race with no incumbent to win a primary with support of only 10 to 15 percent of the registered voters Proposition 14 will open up the primary election and choice of candidates available in the November election.
No on Proposition 15: California Fair Elections Act. Repeals ban on public funding of political campaigns. Creates a voluntary system for candidates for Secretary of State to qualify for a public campaign grant if they agree to limitations on spending and private contributions. Funded by voluntary contributions and biennial tax on lobbyists, lobbying firms and lobbyist employers.
Reason for Position
This proposed measure violates the Constitution because the Legislature has no legal authority to submit the provision to the voters for approval.
More than 20 years ago, voters prohibited taxpayer funds from being given to politicians for their political campaigns. Proposition 15 repeals that prohibition. Even if the court rules that the lobbyist tax is unconstitutional (as two courts already have ruled), the repeal of the ban on public campaign financing remains in effect. California voters have already rejected public campaign financing twice in the last 10 years.
Yes on Proposition 16: Imposes New Two-Thirds Voter Approval Requirement for Local Public Electricity Providers. Requires two-thirds voter approval before local governments may use public funds, bonds or other indebtedness to start up electric delivery service, expand electric delivery service into a new territory or implement a community choice aggregation program.
Reason for Position: Proposition 16 will ensure that taxpayers and ratepayers, who are ultimately financially responsible to pay for the expansion or repay the debt, have the final say if their local elected leaders decide to get involved in or extend their involvement in the retail electric delivery service business. Two-thirds voter approval is California’s best protection against costly and risky government schemes to take over local electric service.
Yes on Proposition 17: Allows Auto Insurance Companies to Base Their Prices in Part on a Driver’s History of Insurance Coverage. Permits companies to reduce or increase cost of insurance depending on whether driver has a history of continuous insurance coverage.
The measure will align California with the vast majority of other states allowing insurers to offer this discount to all drivers who maintain ongoing auto insurance coverage. It will also allow consumers to access competitive or lower rates if an insured changes their insurer.
Under current law, drivers who have maintained auto insurance with the same company are eligible for a continuous coverage discount. A flaw in existing law, however, prohibits drivers from taking this continuous coverage discount with them if they switch insurance companies to get lower rates.
More Information
For more information about the CalChamber’s positions, visit www.calchamber.com/ballot. For more voter information, visit the secretary of state’s website at www.ss.ca.gov.