A Whirlwind of Maneuvering and Madness

California ballot measures often require us to be knowledgeable in perhaps a dozen fields of expertise. Frequently, voters give up because the initiatives are just too difficult to understand. The propositions may vary from protecting animals to regulating dialysis centers.

Sometimes we feel like we need to get a Ph.D. in economics or jurisprudence in order to make an informed decision and navigate the long list of issues affecting and informing our lives.

So, sharpen your stylus (because no one uses pencils anymore) in order to get through this November’s policy proposals, which are the result of an ever-changing list of crime, health care, rent control and tax topics.

We’ve ended up with this list because lawmakers recently made deals on five measures, the California Supreme Court jettisoned one measure, and Gov. Newsom changed his mind on a crime measure he couldn’t find support for on the floor of the state legislature. However, two bond issues were added, one for climate action and another for school construction. 

Here’s why Californians lead the nation in democratic activism.  

Proposition 2: Public Education Facilities Bond Measure

Borrow $10 billion for school construction. This ballot bond issue gives $8.5 billion to K-12 schools and $1.5 billion to community colleges for construction and modernization.  

A “yes” vote supports issuing $10 billion in bonds to fund the construction and modernization of public education facilities.

A “no” vote opposes this action.

Proposition 3: Right to Marry and Repeal Proposition 8 Amendment

Reaffirms the right of same-sex couples to marry. This constitutional amendment from the Legislature would remove language from Proposition 8, passed by voters in 2008, that characterizes marriage as being between a man and a woman.

A “yes” vote supports this constitutional amendment to repeal Proposition 8 (2008), which defined marriage as a union between one man and one woman and declare that a “right to marry is a fundamental right” in the California Constitution.

A “no” vote opposes this constitutional amendment, thus keeping Proposition 8 (2008), which defined marriage as a union between one man and one woman, in the California Constitution.

Proposition 4: Parks, Environment, Energy and Water Bond Measure

This bond issue on the ballot includes $3.8 billion for drinking water and groundwater, $1.5 billion for wildfire and forest programs and $1.2 billion for the impact of sea level rise.

A “yes” vote supports issuing $10 billion in bonds to fund state and local parks, environmental protection projects, water infrastructure projects, energy projects, and flood protection projects.

A “no” vote opposes issuing $10 billion in bonds to fund these programs.

Proposition 5: Lower Supermajority Requirement to 55 Percent for Local Bond Measure to Fund Housing and Public Infrastructure Amendment

This constitutional amendment would make it easier for local governments to borrow money for affordable housing and other infrastructure. Supporters have agreed to block bond money from being used to buy single-family homes.  

A “yes” vote supports lowering the vote threshold from 66.67 percent to 55 percent for local bond measures to fund housing projects and public infrastructure.

A “no” vote opposes this change.

Proposition 6: Remove Involuntary Servitude as Punishment for Crime Amendment

This is a constitutional amendment to end involuntary servitude in state prisons.

A “yes” vote supports amending the state constitution to prohibit involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime and authorizes the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to award credits to incarcerated persons who voluntarily participate in work assignments. 

A “no” vote opposes amending the state constitution.

Proposition 32: $18 Minimum Wage Initiative

Under existing law, the overall minimum wage has risen to $16 an hour, with workers in the fast-food industry receiving a $20 an hour minimum wage and healthcare workers eventually getting a $25 an hour minimum by October 15. Adjustments thereafter are made annually tied to increases in the cost of living.

A “yes” vote affirms the rate. 

A “no” vote opposes this ballot initiative, thereby maintaining the existing law which was designed to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour for all employers by January 2023 and increasing it annually according to inflation.

Proposition 33: Prohibit State Limitations on Local Rent Control Initiatives

This proposition rolls back a state law that generally prevents cities and counties from limiting rents in properties first occupied after Feb. 1, 1995.

A “yes” vote supports a) repealing the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (1995), thereby allowing cities and counties to limit rent on any housing and limit the rent for first-time tenants, and b) adding language to state law to prohibit the state from limiting “the right of any city, county, or city and county to maintain, enact or expand residential rent control.”

A “no” vote opposes repealing the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, which prohibits rent control on single-family homes and houses completed after February 1, 1995.

Proposition 34: Require Certain Participants in Medi-Cal Rx Program to Spend 98 Percent of Revenues on Patient Care Initiative

This measure is aimed at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which has been active in funding ballot measures (see Prop. 33). 

A “yes” vote supports: a) requiring healthcare providers that spent over $100 million in any 10-year period on anything other than direct patient care and operated multifamily housing with over 500 high-severity health and safety violations to spend 98 percent of revenues from the federal discount prescription drug program on direct patient care; b) penalizing violators of the initiative with loss of tax-exempt status and licenses to operate health insurance plans, pharmacies, and clinics; and c) permanently authorizing Medi-Cal Rx in state law.

A “no“ vote opposes this initiative to penalize healthcare providers who spend revenues from the federal discount prescription drug program on purposes other than direct patient care.

Proposition 35: Managed Care Organization Tax Authorization Initiative

This initiative is sponsored by California’s healthcare industry to raise more money for Medi-Cal and keep the legislature (and make Gov. Newsom promise to secure tax money for healthcare for low-income patients) from using the cash to avoid cuts to other programs. 

A “yes” vote supports permanently authorizing a tax on managed care organizations based on monthly enrollees, which is set to expire in 2026 and requiring revenues to be used for increased Medi-Cal programs.

A “no” vote opposes permanently authorizing a tax on managed care organizations based on monthly enrollees, thereby allowing it to expire in 2026.

Proposition 36: Drug and Theft Crime Penalties and Treatment-Mandate Felonies Initiative

This initiative would partly roll back Proposition 47, approved by voters in 2014.

A “yes” vote supports making changes to Proposition 47, approved in 2014, including: a) classifying certain drug offenses as treatment-mandated felonies; b) increasing penalties for certain drug crimes by increasing sentence lengths and levels of crime; c) requiring courts to warn individuals convicted of distributing illegal drugs of their potential future criminal liability if they distribute deadly drugs like fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine; and d) increasing sentences for theft based on the value of the property stolen.

A “no“ vote opposes this initiative that makes changes to Proposition 47 (2014), thereby maintaining certain drug and theft crimes as misdemeanors.