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Prop 19: Legalize Marijuana (Read More)

CCRC takes no position on Prop 19. CCRC recognizes that decriminalizing the use and possession of marijuana,especially in light of the overrepresentation of people of color who are incarcerated for such a crime, may be a welcomed step.  On top of money saved from no longer administering convictions for marijuana use, the state can raise an estimated 1.6 billion dollars in taxes. However, though there are both social and financial incentives to pass such a proposition, CCRC represents communities who are in need of health and social services related to marijuana use. CCRC also believes that a more comprehensive approach to resolving the over-incarceration of people of color for drug-related crimes is needed.  Prop 19 does not address these concerns and thus, we take no position.

Prop 20: Congressional Redistricting (Read More)

CCRC says NO on Prop 20. CCRC finds Prop 20 to be premature. The new Citizens Redistricting Commission, put into place by Proposition 11 passed by voters of California in November 2008, is in the midst of reforming the redistricting process. Redistricitng redraws the lines for state Senate and Assembly districts according to information gathered during the 2010 census. The Commission must draw the districts in conformity with nonpartisan rules designed to create districts of relatively equal population that will provide fair representation for all Californians. If passed, Proposition 20 would increase the commission’s workload by adding Congressional redistricting. We believe we need to assess the commission’s effectiveness before the commission’s responsibilities are significantly expanded.

Prop 21: $18 Annual Vehicle License Surcharge (Read More)

CCRC says YES to Prop 21. Prop 21 establishes a new earmarked fee. CCRC does not generally support earmarks as we recognize earmarked monies do not allow for the flexibility our legislature needs in order to manage the budget. However, this initiative creates a new revenue source and does so for an important aspect of California – our State parks which provide a valuable recreation and natural preservation resource for the state. Without this proposition, our state parks will very likely continue to fall below acceptable levels of maintenance and will not be available to our children and future generations of Californians.

Prop 22: Local Funding (Read More)

CCRC is NEUTRAL on Prop 22. Proposition 22 would provide additional stability in funding for local government, which is important. While we recognize that local governments have been acutely affected by the government’s inability to raise revenues as a result of Proposition 218 and other initiatives, this proposition does little to address the ability to support local government’s critically important services. It imbeds virtually unchangeable law into the constitution that further restricts the legislature’s ability to manage the budget. “Ballot-box budgeting” has consistently restricted the Legislature’s flexibility to oversee the State budget and has contributed to the state’s persistent budget shortfalls. To the extent this trend continues, including Proposition 22, the Legislature will be left with extremely limited discretion to address budget shortfalls.  CCRC would prefer a broader solution to local and state funding obstacles and thus remains neutral on the proposition.

Prop 23: Dirty Energy Proposition (Read More)

CCRC says NO to Prop 23! CCRC strongly opposes the Dirty Energy Proposition, funded by out-of-state oil companies, because it would essentially elimiante AB 32, the landmark Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. Proposition 23 would suspend the implementation of AB 32 until the state unemployment rate is 5.5 percent or lower for four consecutive calendar quarters. That has happened only three times in the last four decades! This dangerous proposition would eliminate clean energy standards that will cut air pollution and protect the public health. Proponents say this measure is needed to preserve jobs, but in fact it will jeopardize hundreds of thousands of clean-energy jobs. We must promote California’s role as an innovator and investor in a clean-tech economy and protect the health and well-being of all Californians.

Prop 24: Close Corporate Loopholes (Read More)

CCRC says YES to Prop 24. Proposition 24 would repeal the corporate tax cuts that were passed in closed-door budget deals of 2008-09 that cost California $1.3 billion and only benefitted 2% of California’s businesses. The tax breaks were given with no requirement that they actually result in the creation of private-sector jobs. CCRC supports repealing these tax cuts because the California budget crisis cannot be solved by spending cuts alone, and surely not with spending cuts combined with tax cuts with no proven value to the economy. This initiative would ensure continued revenue for the State which would help our schools, health care, and other necessary services that have suffered severe budget cuts over the last few years.

Prop 25: Majority Vote for Budget (Read More)

CCRC says YES to Prop 25. Addressing the California budget crisis at its root causes is one of CCRC’s highest priorities. CCRC strongly supports Prop 25, which would change the vote required for the Legislature to pass a budget from the current super-majority vote of two-thirds to a simple majority. Majority rule is a fundamental part of democracy without which democracy becomes a bit of a farce. The majority should set priorities for spending and be held accountable for them. This measure will change the budget process so that a simple majority can make the decisions without suffering from the tyranny of the minority that has caused California’s budget crisis and allowed the minority party to hold the budget hostage. Budgets that are late and full of cuts and behind closed-doors deals harms all Californians, damage our economy, and hurt the state’s credit rating.

Prop 26: Pollution Tax (Read More)

CCRC says NO to Prop 26. Again, addressing the California budget crisis at its root causes is one of CCRC’s highest priorities. CCRC strongly opposes Proposition 26. Currently, California defines fees imposed on companies for environmental harm or harm done to public health as regulatory fees. Prop 26 would redefine these and consider them taxes instead. Since taxes, unlike fees, require a two-thirds vote for approval, it would be much more difficult for state and local governments to secure such payments from companies selling or using harmful products or creating public nuisances. CCRC opposes Proposition 26 because we believe that decisions on all revenue measures should be made by a simple majority vote and that the imposition of two-thirds super majority votes is what has caused California’s budget crisis in the first place. This initiative would likely cause a reduction in monies available to the state, thereby exacerbating the current deficit. Californians would likely see even more cuts in our services and programs.

Prop 27: Eliminates State Redistricting Commission (Read More)

CCRC says NO to Prop 27. This measure would remove the Citizens Redistricting Commission currently in place by Proposition 11 passed by voters in 2008. Before eliminating the commission, California voters deserve to see if the commission process is in practice better than the redistricting process led by the legislature.  In 2011, voters will get to see both processes move forward, as congressional redistricting remains with the legislature while the commission will redraw lines for state legislative and board of equalization districts.

*The positions reflected here do not  necessarily represent the opinions of each  individual coalition member organization.