(February 10, 2010) California Secretary of State Debra Bowen recently released proposition numbers for the five measures that will appear on the June 8 statewide direct primary election ballot.
The five propositions for the June 8 ballot are listed below with the California Chamber of Commerce positions.
Proposition 13: Bars property tax increases on construction for seismic retrofits — SUPPORT
Proposition 14: California Top Two Candidates Open Primary Act —SUPPORT
This proposed measure mirrors the development of the successful “open primary” election system that is in place in Washington State. This system allows the top two vote getters, regardless of party, to compete in the general election and has been validated by the U.S. Supreme Court. The measure will appear on the June 2010 primary election ballot.
The CalChamber Board members voted to support this measure because they believe it will increase voter participation and empowers Californians in all state legislative districts to elect candidates who represent the broadest views in their district.
Proposition 15: California Fair Elections Act of 2008 — OPPOSE
If passed, Proposition 15 would institute a pilot program of publicly financed elections for the office of California Secretary of State. The publicly-financed election would be funded by taxing lobbyists, lobbying firms and lobbyist employers. The measure is currently the subject of litigation. A similar measure in Vermont was ruled to violate the U.S. Constitution. An Arizona court has also struck down lobbyist “fees” used to fund a public campaign financing program.
The CalChamber Board voted to oppose this proposed measure because it violates the Constitution and because the Legislature has no legal authority to submit the provision to the voters for approval.
Proposition 16: Taxpayers Right to Vote Act — SUPPORT
The act 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 (CCA) program.
One of the reasons the CalChamber Board voted to support the measure is because it 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.
Proposition 17: Continuous Coverage Auto Insurance Discount Act — SUPPORT
This measure amends Proposition 103, passed by the voters in 1988, to authorize the use of an additional discount on premiums for automobile insurance policies. In particular, the act would allow an insurer to offer a “continuous coverage” discount to new customers who have maintained their coverage while they previously were customers of another insurer.
The CalChamber Board voted to support this proposed measures for a number of reasons including the fact that it 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.
Comments for Voter Information Guide
Secretary Bowen also has invited interested Californians to submit arguments to be included in the Official Voter Information Guide.
If multiple arguments are submitted for one proposition, state law gives first priority to arguments written by legislators in the case of a legislative measure, and first priority to arguments written by the proponents of an initiative in the case of an initiative measure. Subsequent priority for all measures goes to bona fide citizen associations and then to individuals. No more than three signers are allowed to appear with an argument or rebuttal to an argument.
Ballot arguments cannot exceed 500 words and rebuttals to ballot arguments cannot exceed 250 words. All submissions should be typed and double-spaced. They may be hand-delivered to the Secretary of State’s Elections Division at 1500 11th Street, 5th Floor, Sacramento, California 95814 or faxed to (916) 653-3214. If faxed, the original copies must be received within 72 hours. The deadline to submit ballot arguments is February 9 by 5 p.m. and the deadline to submit rebuttals to the ballot arguments is February 18 by 5 p.m.
For more information and to view all of the special election ballot measures, visit the Secretary of State website, www.ss.ca.gov.