STOP 49 CAMPAIGN OUTSPENT 1000 TO 1

PROP 49 FIGHT TO CONTINUE

SACRAMENTO - Despite the efforts of the Stop Prop 49 Campaign, a coalition led by the League of Women Voters of California and the California Federation of Teachers, Proposition 49 was narrowly passed by California voters yesterday.

Proposition 49, the After School Education and Safety Program Act of 2002, was the initiative sponsored by action movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger. Campaign reports indicate spending by the Yes on Prop 49 campaign of approximately $10 million.

In contrast, the Stop 49 Campaign Committee reported contributions -- mostly in staff time -- of about $10,000.

"Even with a popular celebrity sponsor out spending us one thousand to one, 2.7 million California voters saw Prop 49 for what it was -- a rob Peter to pay Paul initiative that could hurt more kids than it helps," said League President Barbara Inatsugu.  "We started this campaign in lone opposition to Prop 49, but we ended the campaign with a coalition of influential supporters and millions of voters who understand the dangers of mandated spending programs."

The Stop 49 Campaign had won the endorsement of seniors' groups, women's groups, child advocates, educators, taxpayer groups and influential public officials, including State Treasurer Phil Angelides, Senate Education Committee Chair John Vasconcellos and Assembly Education Committee Chair Jackie Goldberg.

In addition, over 35 newspapers, serving more than 5 million readers and representing every region and political viewpoint in California published, editorials or ballot recommendations against Prop 49.

"Our focus in this campaign was to educate voters, public officials and the media about the fiscal irresponsibility of ballot measures that mandate spending on specific programs without providing the money to pay for them," said Inatsugu.  "We see this as a dangerous and growing trend in ballot measures, and we fought this initiative with one eye towards building a foundation for defeating future measures."

Proposition 49 was one of two ballot measures on this ballot that attempted to lock up a portion of state spending for specific programs.  Proposition 51 sought to redirect $1 billion of state revenues each year to 17 program categories of transportation spending and 45 specific transportation projects.

"We are ecstatic that Californians rejected the other ballot-box budgeting initiative," said Inatsugu.  "But although the League of Women Voters of California opposed Prop 49 and Prop 51 for the same reasons, voters seemed to reject Prop 51 more out of a concern that campaign contributions unduly influenced the content of the initiative."

Prop 51 was widely criticized by public officials and the media as a "pay-to-play" measure that ignored local transportation needs in favor of projects benefiting campaign donors.

Although Proposition 49 was passed, there could still be important battles concerning how the initiative is funded.  The state's nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) predicts that California will face a budget deficit totaling $50 to $60 billion over the next four years.

"The tough decisions on which programs have to be cut to fund this program could be more contentious than anything we've seen during the campaign," said Inatsugu.

For more information on the campaign against Prop 49, including lists of endorsers and newspaper editorials, visit our Web site:
www.stop49.org

STOP PROP 49, A COMMITTEE AGAINST PROPOSITION 49 SPONSORED BY THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF CALIFORNIA
926 J Street Suite 515 Sacramento, CA 95814
Email: stop49@lwvc.org   Web site: www.Stop49.org