LWVC ANNOUNCES BALLOT POSITIONS

LEAGUE OPPOSING TWO CONTROVERSIAL BUDGET INITIATIVES
SUPPORTING BONDS AND ELECTION DAY VOTER REGISTRATION

SACRAMENTO - The League of Women Voters of California (LWVC) today announced their positions on six of the seven measures facing voters on the November ballot. Proponents of two of the measures were shocked to learn that the LWVC is opposing their initiatives, because both would fund programs that have typically been supported by the League.

The League is OPPOSING both Proposition 49, the Before and After School Program Initiative and Proposition 51, the Transportation Distribution of Existing Motor Vehicle and Use Sales Tax Initiative, although they continue to lobby for other quality after school and environmentally friendly transportation programs.

"Proponents may dismiss the League's opposition as merely a technical budgeting argument," League President Barbara Inatsugu said, "but the League believes it is a matter of fundamental fairness, and that passage of the measures would set a dangerous precedent, particularly in difficult economic times."

Added together, Propositions 49 and 51 would cost more than $1.5 billion every year. Both propositions guarantee funding for their programs and projects outside of the regular budget process, with no consideration of competing priorities.  Neither measure provides new revenues to cover these expenditures.

The California Budget Project (CBP) has completed briefs (http://www.cbp.org/props.htm) which further detail the serious public policy and budget concerns raised by both measures.  CBP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization  providing trusted independent fiscal and policy analyses since 1994.

"Both measures make inadequate provisions for tough budget times," Inatsugu said. "Unless the state is flush with cash, it is almost certain that there will be years when other programs will have to be cut or taxes raised to pay for these protected programs."

Although California faces a record $24 billion deficit this year, if these measures were in place today, their "safeguards" would not have suspended one dollar of their mandated spending, but would simply have added another $1.5 billion to the budget crunch.

The League believes passage of these initiatives sets a dangerous precedent and would encourage other powerful special interests to bypass the budget process and lock up funding for their own programs through ballot initiatives. Other programs, such as health care, special school programs, or environmental protection, which lack the political clout or money to bankroll their own initiatives, would lose out.

The LWVC SUPPORTS Proposition 52 which, if passed, will establish election day voter registration. The measure includes numerous safeguards that will make election day registration even more secure than current registration methods. Six other states have used election day registration for years with few problems, and have increased their voter turnout even as the national average continues to fall.

"Voter fraud is not a significant problem in California," Inatsugu said, "but chronically declining voter participation is a real threat to our democracy. Election day voter registration will help turn the tide, guaranteeing that the voices of everyone eligible to vote can be heard on election day."

The LWVC also SUPPORTS the three bond measures on the November ballot: Propoition 46, the Housing and Emergency Shelter Bond Act; Proposition 47, the Kindergarten-University Public Facilities Bond Act; and Proposition 50, the Water Quality, Supply, Safe Drinking Water Projects, Coastal Wetlands Purchase and Protection Bond Initiative.

"These bonds address critical shortages facing California: affordable housing for working families and shelters for victims of domestic violence, new and safe classrooms for our critically overcrowded schools, and water projects to ensure the availability of safe drinking water," Inatsugu said.

The three bond measures were supported by the League only after considering the benefits and costs of each measure. California's solid bond rating, historically low interest rates and an acceptable debt service make this a good time to address these crucial infrastructure needs.

Positions on these ballot measures were taken after a long process of careful deliberation, using well established League positions as a guide.  Some measures had been examined for over a year.

"Voters have come to rely on the League for a nonpartisan and thorough analysis of often complex ballot measures.  We take that responsibility seriously," said Inatsugu.

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