2006 Initiatives: Message from the Voters – Status Quo

While Proposition 1-D and the entire package of bond initiatives were successfully passed during the election on November 7, most initiatives were not so lucky.

With support and backing from the Governor and legislative leadership, Propositions 1A – 1E were approved by voters as they agreed with the need for further dollars to support the state’s infrastructure including transportation, levee improvements, affordable housing and education.

In addition, Proposition 84, which was not part of the original package but addresses through a bond, water quality, safety and supply for the state was also given the approval by 53.8 percent of those who made their way to the polls. The only non-bond related initiative that was approved was Proposition 83 which seeks to tighten the monitoring of sexual predators throughout the state.

On the flip side voter fatigue may have plagued the rest of the proposition measures as the remaining six measures that appeared on the ballot following Proposition 84 failed, including an initiative regulating the governments right to eminent domain of private property that seemed to be polling well not that long ago.

Three of the measures, Propositions 86, 87 and 88 which sought to pass a cigarette, oil and private parcel tax were seen by voters as merely a way to do an end run around Proposition 98, which currently directs half of every new dollar in these areas to K-12 education. Due to this portion of the proposals the California Teachers Association chose to oppose these propositions as an attack on Proposition 98.

More specifically, Proposition 86 would have placed a tax of 87 cents on a package of cigarettes and according to the Legislative Analyst’s office, higher education would have received $91 million in 2007/08 for the expansion of nursing programs.

Proposition 87 would have raised $4 billion over time for various alternative fuel purposes, which would have included 26 percent of its revenue to go to research at state universities.

Proposition 88, which would have created a $50 parcel tax on property sought to raise $470 million annually if passed, with $175 million going toward class size reduction and therefore possibly resulting in more teachers in the classroom.

Overall, it appears that voters came to the polls this year with a clear message against new taxes, frustration with the complexity of the issues before them, and an intensely negative campaign that started within hours after the June primary.