Here are the ‘Official Title and Summary’ to the propositions of the California General Elections. It includes my opinions only, too.

1. PROP 1A: I really wanted bullet trains (just like the ones in Japan) to complete the circuit around the Bay Area; so people could travel to major cities like San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland. I envisioned less stress and time driving behind the wheels, less hydro-carbon emissions from the tailpipes of motorized vehicles and more traveling to these tourist sites, which should be profitable for businesses. Plus, workers won’t be late on arrival.

STANDARDS FOR CONFINING FARM ANIMALS. INITIATIVE STATUTE.

• Requires that calves raised for veal, egg-laying hens and pregnant pigs be confined only in ways that allow these animals to lie down, stand up, fully extend their limbs and turn around freely.
• Exceptions made for transportation, rodeos, fairs, 4-H programs, lawful slaughter, research and veterinary purposes.
• Provides misdemeanor penalties, including a fine not to exceed $1,000 and/or imprisonment in jail for up to 180 days.

Summary of Legislative Analyst’s Estimate of Net State and Local Government Fiscal Impact:

• Potential unknown decrease in state and local tax revenues from farm businesses, possibly in the range of several million dollars annually.
• Potential minor local and state enforcement and prosecution costs, partly offset by increased fine revenue.

2. PROP 2: I remember watching ‘Charlotte Web’, an animated cartoon show about Wilbur the pig and Charlotte the spider. They were friends until Charlotte the spider died of old age. I feel that farm animals need to roam freely prior to slaughter time. I feel that animals should not be bred as foodstuff to fill the stomachs of hungry, flesh eating, blood drinking ‘people’. I don’t like those advertisements on television promoting the fear factor of these alleged dangers from food poisoning. China is already doing a good job with harming its own citizens. I think we should be morally conscionable to help our farm friends.

STANDARDS FOR CONFINING FARM ANIMALS. INITIATIVE STATUTE.

• Requires that calves raised for veal, egg-laying hens and pregnant pigs be confined only in ways that allow these animals to lie down, stand up, fully extend their limbs and turn around freely.
• Exceptions made for transportation, rodeos, fairs, 4-H programs, lawful slaughter, research and veterinary purposes.
• Provides misdemeanor penalties, including a fine not to exceed $1,000 and/or imprisonment in jail for up to 180 days.

Summary of Legislative Analyst’s Estimate of Net State and Local Government Fiscal Impact:

• Potential unknown decrease in state and local tax revenues from farm businesses, possibly in the range of several million dollars annually.
• Potential minor local and state enforcement and prosecution costs, partly offset by increased fine revenue.

3. PROP 3: I love children. But I don’t like the idea of prolonging their pain and suffering either, especially when they already have an incurable disease illnesses. I see this bond as another expensive improvement on ‘real property’ and less help to the real cause of these sickness. Chemo-therapy is not the answer. It’s another scam to poison the children with radiation, which we all damn well know destroys living cells and irradiates the DNA structure.

CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL BOND ACT. GRANT PROGRAM. INITIATIVE STATUTE.

• Authorizes $980,000,000 in bonds, to be repaid from state’s General Fund, to fund the construction, expansion, remodeling, renovation, furnishing and equipping of children’s hospitals.
• Designates that 80 percent of bond proceeds go to hospitals that focus on children with illnesses such as leukemia, cancer, heart defects, diabetes, sickle cell anemia and cystic fibrosis.
• Requires that qualifying children’s hospitals provide comprehensive services to a high volume of children eligible for governmental programs and meet other requirements.
• Designates that 20 percent of bond proceeds go to University of California general acute care hospitals.

Summary of Legislative Analyst’s Estimate of Net State and Local Government Fiscal Impact:

• State cost of about $2 billion over 30 years to pay off both the principal ($980 million) and the interest ($933 million) costs of the bonds. Payments of about $64 million per year.

4. PROP 4: I love children. I especially don’t like minors being hurt by criminals. But what I especially don’t like are the irresponsible minors, who sneak off at night and have pre-marital sex behind their parents’ backs! I don’t like seeing those televised advertisement about promoting fear from letting the parents know about another life. This proposition encourages minors to lie flat out! There is always the option of adoptions.

WAITING PERIOD AND PARENTAL NOTIFICATION BEFORE TERMINATION OF MINOR’S PREGNANCY. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

• Changes California Constitution to prohibit abortion for unemancipated minor until 48 hours after physician notifies minor’s parent or legal guardian.
• Permits notification to certain adult relatives if doctor reports parent to law enforcement or Child Protective Services.
• Provides notification exceptions for medical emergency or parental waiver.
• Permits courts to waive notice based on clear and convincing evidence of minor’s maturity or best interests.
• Mandates reporting requirements, including reports from physicians regarding abortions on minors.
• Authorizes damages against physicians for violation.
• Requires minor’s consent to abortion, with exceptions.

Summary of Legislative Analyst’s Estimate of Net State and Local Government Fiscal Impact:

• Potential unknown net state costs of several million dollars annually for health and social services programs, court administration, and state health agency administration combined.

5. PROP 5: I believe in second chances. But this would mean, based on my quick reading of the ‘CON’ section to this proposition, that the DRUG DEALERS would go free. According to my economic studies long ago, if y’all want to eliminate drug users, you must remove the source, which are the DRUG DEALERS! They are the criminals! They are the ones dumbing down Americans, who cannot fight back because of their drug addictions! And now y’all want to stick a proposition in the faces of the tax payers to ‘help those beyond repair’? Sheesh!

NONVIOLENT DRUG OFFENSES. SENTENCING, PAROLE AND REHABILITATION. INITIATIVE STATUTE.

• Allocates $460,000,000 annually to improve and expand treatment programs for persons convicted of drug and other offenses.
• Limits court authority to incarcerate offenders who commit certain drug crimes, break drug treatment rules or violate parole.
• Substantially shortens parole for certain drug offenses; increases parole for serious and violent felonies.
• Divides Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation authority between two Secretaries, one with six year fixed term and one serving at pleasure of Governor. Provides five year fixed terms for deputy secretaries.
• Creates 19 member board to direct parole and rehabilitation policy.

Summary of Legislative Analyst’s Estimate of Net State and Local Government Fiscal Impact:

• Increased state costs over time potentially exceeding $1 billion annually primarily for expanding drug treatment and rehabilitation programs for offenders in state prisons, on parole, and in the community.
• State savings over time potentially exceeding $1 billion annually due primarily to reduced prison and parole operating costs.
• Net one-time state savings on capital outlay costs for prison facilities that eventually could exceed $2.5 billion.
• Unknown net fiscal effect on county operations and capital outlay.

6. PROP 6: Honestly, most people are honorable and non-violent. People won’t just belong to gangs if they have no where else to go, hope or family members to make sure they won’t ‘fall from grace’. I don’t see people getting hurt in my neck of the neighborhood. Only mind-programming material from the boob tube shows us that there are those who need jobs and a second chance in life. But if the data shows that ‘human beings’ are getting more out of control with ‘anti-life’ sentiments for justice, then sure, let’s have more a more, military, gestapo-like system to keep ALL of us locked up inside our own homes out of fear from taking a normal, brisk walk at night with friends. Sheesh!

POLICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNDING. CRIMINAL PENALTIES AND LAWS. INITIATIVE STATUTE.

• Requires minimum of $965,000,000 each year to be allocated from state General Fund for police, sheriffs, district attorneys, adult probation, jails and juvenile probation facilities. Some of this funding will increase in following years according to California Consumer Price Index.
• Makes approximately 30 revisions to California criminal law, many of which cover gang-related offenses. Revisions create multiple new crimes and additional penalties, some with the potential for new life sentences.
• Increases penalties for violating a gang-related injunction and for felons carrying guns under certain conditions.

Summary of Legislative Analyst’s Estimate of Net State and Local Government Fiscal Impact:

• Net increase in state costs that are likely within a few years to exceed $500 million annually, primarily due to increasing state spending for various criminal justice programs to at least $965 million, as well as for increased costs for prison and parole operations. These costs would increase by tens of millions of dollars annually in subsequent years.
• Potential one-time state capital outlay costs for prison facilities that could exceed $500 million due to increases in the prison population.

7. PROP 7: I don’t know about this one. Solar energy is non-renewable. I’ve been reading articles on how major, technological break-throughs have not been fully disclosed to the public and the geniuses behind these discoveries have been removed from society and the pages of mainstream, scientific publications forever. This proposition forces the taxpayers to pay up either way.

RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION. INITIATIVE STATUTE.

• Requires utilities, including government-owned utilities, to generate 20% of their power from renewable energy by 2010, a standard currently applicable only to private electrical corporations.
• Raises requirement for utilities to 40% by 2020 and 50% by 2025.
• Imposes penalties, subject to waiver, for noncompliance.
• Transfers some jurisdiction of regulatory matters from Public Utilities Commission to Energy Commission.
• Fast-tracks approval for new renewable energy plants.
• Requires utilities to sign longer contracts (20 year minimum) to procure renewable energy.
• Creates account to purchase rights-of-way and facilities for the transmission of renewable energy.

Summary of Legislative Analyst’s Estimate of Net State and Local Government Fiscal Impact:

• Increased state administrative costs of up to $3.4 million annually for the regulatory activities of the California Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission and the California Public Utilities Commission, paid for by fee revenues.
• Unknown impact on state and local government costs and revenues due to the measure’s uncertain impact on retail electricity rates. In the short term, the prospects for higher rates-and therefore higher costs, lower sales and income tax revenues, and higher local utility tax revenues-are more likely. In the long term, the impact on electricity rates, and therefore state and local government costs and revenues, is unknown.

8. PROP 8: I believe that love between same-sex couples does not need to be recognized by the state. They already have the same rights as married couples. This proposition promotes the indocrination of our children to accept ‘anti-life’ in place of basic social structure of parental units between a male (husband) and a female (wife) to raise a family of children. This is another attempt to depopulate ‘human beings’, or genocide as another form of hidden agenda. The only discrimination I see here is the discrimination to keep sound family values intact.

ELIMINATES RIGHT OF SAME-SEX COUPLES TO MARRY. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

• Changes the California Constitution to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry in California.
• Provides that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.

Summary of Legislative Analyst’s Estimate of Net State and Local Government Fiscal Impact:

• Over the next few years, potential revenue loss, mainly from sales taxes, totaling in the several tens of millions of dollars, to state and local governments.
• In the long run, likely little fiscal impact on state and local governments.

9. PROP 9: Once again, I read the ‘CON’ side to this proposition first and made my vote based on the fact that victims already have rights. Perhaps, the real victims could be the offenders as the cycle continues. There are always those on the far end of the spectrum of being dealt a bad deal in life. I see that some ‘personal confidential information and records to criminal defendants’ might be a problem is this area. I smell stink, here, like someone (i.e. ‘Barry’) blocking the truth to his past.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. VICTIMS’ RIGHTS. PAROLE. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND STATUTE.

• Requires notification to victim and opportunity for input during phases of criminal justice process, including bail, pleas, sentencing and parole.
• Establishes victim safety as consideration in determining bail or release on parole.
• Increases the number of people permitted to attend and testify on behalf of victims at parole hearings.
• Reduces the number of parole hearings to which prisoners are entitled.
• Requires that victims receive written notification of their constitutional rights.
• Establishes timelines and procedures concerning parole revocation hearings.

Summary of Legislative Analyst’s Estimate of Net State and Local Government Fiscal Impact:

• Potential loss of future state savings on prison operations and potential increased county jail operating costs that could collectively amount to hundreds of millions of dollars annually, due to restricting the early release of inmates to reduce facility overcrowding.
• Net savings in the low tens of millions of dollars annually for the administration of parole hearings and revocations, unless the changes in parole revocation procedures were found to conflict with federal legal requirements.

10. PROP 10: This is yet another scam. The replacement for the batteries of hybrid cars cost around $8,000.00! This is due to the fact that batteries don’t hold their charge! And in time those batteries lost their juice. A person could get more power from regular car, which cost by far less than a hybrid car! Trust me: I have an electrical shaver that could only be used once and then I’d have to re-charged that shaver for about one-hour. The price for the barrels of oil is going down; yet the prices of gasoline keeps going up. Why? It’s because it’s all a scam to line the pockets of TPTB; while this proposition forces taxpayers to meet the ‘demands’ for the rising cost of energy. Sheesh!

ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES AND RENEWABLE ENERGY. BONDS. INITIATIVE STATUTE.

• Provides $3.425 billion to help consumers and others purchase certain high fuel economy or alternative fuel vehicles, including natural gas vehicles, and to fund research into alternative fuel technology.
• Provides $1.25 billion for research, development and production of renewable energy technology, primarily solar energy with additional funding for other forms of renewable energy; incentives for purchasing solar and renewable energy technology.
• Provides grants to cities for renewable energy projects and to colleges for training in renewable and energy efficiency technologies.
• Total funding provided is $5 billion from general obligation bonds.

Summary of Legislative Analyst’s Estimate of Net State and Local Government Fiscal Impact:

• State costs of about $10 billion over 30 years to pay off both the principal ($5 billion) and interest ($5 billion) costs of the bonds. Payments of about $335 million per year.
• Increase in state sales tax revenues of an unknown amount, potentially totaling in the tens of millions of dollars, over the period from 2009 to about 2019.
• Increase in local sales tax and vehicle license fee revenues of an unknown amount, potentially totaling in the tens of millions of dollars, over the period from 2009 to about 2019.
• Potential state costs of up to about $10 million annually, through about 2019, for state agency administrative costs not funded by the measure.

11. PROP 11: I read the ‘CON’ side to this proposition and I don’t like what I read. It appears that the oversight would be eliminated and the spending spree by these bureaucrats would get out of control again. I don’t understand why the government cannot hire, non-interested external auditors not from the government and without any ties to political parties. I don’t understand this proposition except it will cost the taxpayers again.

REDISTRICTING. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND STATUTE.

• Changes authority for establishing Assembly, Senate, and Board of Equalization district boundaries from elected representatives to 14 member commission.
• Requires government auditors to select 60 registered voters from applicant pool. Permits legislative leaders to reduce pool, then the auditors pick eight commission members by lottery, and those commissioners pick six additional members for 14 total.
• Requires commission of five Democrats, five Republicans and four of neither party. Commission shall hire lawyers and consultants as needed.
• For approval, district boundaries need votes from three Democratic commissioners, three Republican commissioners and three commissioners from neither party.

Summary of Legislative Analyst’s Estimate of Net State and Local Government Fiscal Impact:

• Potential increase in state redistricting costs once every ten years due to two entities performing redistricting. Any increase in costs probably would not be significant.

12. PROP 12: I read the ‘CON’ side to this proposition, which looks familiar, like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, whereby only a few deserving folks are entitled to this program. Whatever this proposition means not all these ‘veterans’ could pay back the loans? Aren’t most veterans disabled? And how are the disabled to ‘pay back’ the loans when they cannot find descent, paying jobs? This means the taxpayers are going to ‘foot the bills’ again.

VETERANS’ BOND ACT OF 2008.

• This act provides for a bond issue of nine hundred million dollars ($900,000,000) to provide loans to California veterans to purchase farms and homes.
• Appropriates money from the state General Fund to pay off the bonds, if loan payments from participating veterans are insufficient for that purpose.

Summary of Legislative Analyst’s Estimate of Net State and Local Government Fiscal Impact:

• Costs of about $1.8 billion to pay off both the principal ($900 million) and interest ($856 million) on the bonds; costs paid by participating veterans.
• Average payment for principal and interest of about $59 million per year for 30 years.

Blogger’s note: If y’all not sure how to vote on any of these propositions, just vote the OPPOSITE of the proposition, which is ‘NO’ on most but only one ‘YES’, which is Prop8. The bureaucrats got its citizen into loads of mess by creating chaos out of nothing and expect the TAXPAYERS to ‘clean house’! THINK PEOPLE!

Copyright © 2008 by Fluffy von der Flynn. All rights reserved.