California Primary Election - March 2 Tuesday

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The California Primary Election and the Propositions affect each one of our lifes. Don't you want to know where your tax money is being used at and what your tax payment supports. Please take a quick minute to read the following and take actions (on the poll that is).



California Primary Election
Tuesday, March 2, 2004


Proposition 55: Kindergarten thru University Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 2004
Summary
This twelve billion three hundred million dollar ($12,300,000,000) bond issue will provide funding for necessary education facilities to relieve overcrowding and to repair older schools. Funds will be targeted to areas of the greatest need and must be spent according to strict accountability measures. Funds will also be used to upgrade and build new classrooms in the California Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California, to provide adequate higher education facilities to accomodate the growing student enrollment. These bonds may be used only for eligible projects. Fiscal Impact: State costs of about $24.7 billion to pay off both the principal ($12.3 billion) and interest ($12.4 billion) costs on the bonds. Payments of about $823 million per year.

WHAT YOUR VOTE MEANS
YES: A YES vote on this measure means: The state could sell $12.3 billion in general obligation bonds for the construction and renovation of public education facilities (kindergarten through college).

NO: A NO vote on this measure means: The state could not sell $12.3 billion in general obligation bonds for these purposes.


ARGUMENTS
PRO: Provide kids with clean, safe classrooms to improve student learning. Proposition 55 will FIX RUNDOWN CLASSROOMS and BUILD NEW SCHOOLS. STRICT ACCOUNTABILITY and AUDITS guard against waste and mismanagement. California Teachers Association, California Taxpayers' Association, State PTA, California Chamber of Commerce: "Invest in kids and their future. Yes on 55."

CON: California faces the worst financial crisis in its history. We need new schools, not more debt for taxpayers. Proposion 55 is fundamentally flaweed, poorly drafted, and grossly unfair. It favors the Los Angeles Unified School District at the expense of the rest of the state and it will raise our taxes.


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Proposition 56: State Budget, Related Taxes, and Reserve. Voting Requirements. Penalties, Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
Summary
Permits enactment of budget and budget-related tax/appropriation bills with 55% vote. Legislature, Governor forfeit compensation each day budget is late. Fiscal Impact: Varying impacts from lowering the vote requirement for budget-related measures-including changes in spending and potentially significant increases in state tax revenues in some years. Impacts would depend on the composition and actions of future Legislatures.

WHAT YOUR VOTE MEANS
Yes: A YES vote on this measure means: The Legislature could pass the state budget and tax Increase measures related to the budget by a 55 percent vote. Other changes to the budget process would be made.

No: A NO vote on this measure means: The state budget and tax increase measures would continue to require a two-thirds vote for passage. The budget process would remain the same.


ARGUMENTS
PRO: Proposition 56 is real budget reform. It holds legislators accountable by withholding their pay when the budget is late, informing voters of how their money is spent, lowering the threshold to pass a budget from 2/3 to 55%, and requiring a real "rainy day" fund to help balance the budget.

CON: Proposition 56 masquerades as accountability, but actually eliiminates the 2/3 legislative vote needed before politicians can increase taxes. If Proposition 56 passes, expect HIGHER CAR TAXES, GAS TAXES, INCOME TAXES, SALES TAXES, TAXES on HOMEOWNERS. Don't give Sacramento a BLANK CHECk. California Taxpayers' Association recommends: NO, NO, No on 56!







VOTER BILL OF RIGHTS
1. You have the right to case a ballot if you are a valid registered voter.
A valid registered voter means a United States citizen who is a resident in this state, who is at least 18 years of age and not in prison or on parole for conviction of a felony, and who is registered to vote at his or her current residence address.

2. You have the right to cast a provisional ballot if your name is not listed on the voting tolls.

3. You have the right to cast a ballot if you are present and in line at the polling place prior to close of the polls.

4. You have the right to cast a secret ballot free from intimidation.

5. You have the right to receive a new ballot if, prior to casting your ballot, you believe you made a mistake.
If at any time before you finally cast your ballot, you feel you have made a mistake, you have the right to exchange the spoiled ballot for a new ballot. Absentee voters may also request and receive a new ballot if they return their spoiled ballot to an election official prior to the closing of the polls on Election Day.

6. You have the right to receive assistance in casting your ballot, if you are unable to vote without assistance.

7. You have the right to return a completed absentee ballot to any precinct in the country.

8. You have the right to election materials in another language, if there are sufficient residents in your precinct to warrant production.

9. You have the right to ask questions about election procedures and observe the elections process.
You have the right to ask questions of the precinct board and election officials regading election procedures and to receive an answer or be directed to the appropriate official for an answer. However, if persistent questioning disrupts the execution of their duties, the board of election officials may discontinue responding to questions.

10. You have the right to report any illegal or fraudulent activity to a local elections official or to the Secretary of State's Office.