California RLC: NO on Propositions 1A-1F on May 19 Special Election
By Aaron - April 14, 2009 at 6:27 PM
Filed under Ballot issues , California , Education , Heath Care , Issues , States , Taxes
Filed under Ballot issues , California , Education , Heath Care , Issues , States , Taxes
The Republican Liberty Caucus of California Recommends a NO Vote On Propositions 1A-1F in the May 19 Special Election:
NO on Proposition 1-A: THE RAINY DAY BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND
This budget deal is a bailout for big spenders who will extract another $16 billion dollars in taxes and continue to increase state spending. It is not a rainy day fund at all. The California legislature that has overtaxed and spend our hard-earned money will just have another slush fund to use at their will. It does nothing to restrain bloated deficits nor restrain tax-and-spend legislators.
NO on Proposition 1-B: EDUCATION FUNDING. PAYMENT PLAN
This proposal mandates more deficit spending for an education system that needs massive reform, not another $9.3 billion dollars in spending. Every increase in education spending, over many decades, has resulted in decreased student achievement. The legislature should be expanding charter schools, cutting bureaucracy, and allowing parents to choose among competitive public and private schools.
NO on Proposition 1-C: LOTTERY MODERNIZATION ACT
Lenders no longer trust the state of California to pay off its debts with reduced spending, so the legislature wants to promise its future income from gambling to bet that voters are suckers. The state legislators want to gamble in order to pay lenders so they can borrow and spend more.
NO on Proposition 1-D: CHILDREN’S SERVICES FUNDING
This shell game takes tobacco tax revenue, that had been promised for early childhood development programs, to pay off its other general fund obligations. Not only does this allow the state legislator to hinder the voter initiative, but it will fund more bloated state bureaucracy.
NO on Proposition 1-E: MENTAL HEALTH FUNDING. TEMPORARY REALLOCATION
This proposal is another shell game that voids voter initiative preferences to pay for mandates that were imposed by the federal government. The state should be saying NO to federal mandates and handouts, of our tax dollars, by reforming its own MediCal program with tax-free medical savings plans.
NO on Proposition 1-F: ELECTED OFFICIALS’ SALARIES. PREVENTS PAY INCREASES DURING BUDGET DEFICIT YEARS
This feel-good proposition pretends to freeze legislator’s salaries, but it does nothing of the sort. It pretends to be an incentive for responsible budget reductions, but it only guarantees more tax increases when legislators insist that they have to spend more. It does nothing to cut legislator salaries, nor those of the exploding state bureaucracy. This is a con game, to top off the shell games and slush funds of the other propositions.
Vote NO on all of these statist, bureaucratic games. NO on more borrowing and spending.
On April 26th, 2009 at 9:45 am
What is the Republican plan to address the California budget problems?
On April 26th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
The Republican Governor’s Plan is “raise taxes, raid other pots of state money and borrow against future lottery revenue”
The California RLC opposes this plan. I can’t speak for the RLC, but it’s time for the state to stop spending more than it takes in. It needs to save surpluses for a rainy day. If it had done this, we wouldn’t be in this situation.
The state could start by getting rid of programs that have a federal counterpart like Medi-Cal and Cal-OSHA. Why do again what we’re already paying for. The state needs to shrink it’s outrageous pension benefits for new employees.
90% pay after 30 years !@#$%^&*()
The state buget has grown by leaps and bound over the last 10 years. It’s time for the state to cut back and start paying down debt so we don’t 1) pass it on to our children. 2) drive businesses and wage earners out of California.
1A-1F allows the state to keep delaying these tought decisions.
The voters also need to stop voting in more debt.
On May 12th, 2009 at 10:12 am
No on Proposition 1A
Proposition 1A is a legislative placebo. No matter how much wishful thinking occurs in Sacramento, it does not cure our current or future budget problems. It only makes things worse.
We already know where the money will come from for a $13 billion dollar “rainy day” fund.
First, it will come from a reduction in services to our most vulnerable members in our communities. This past February, the budget agreement stripped Medi-Cal benefits for low-income seniors.
Second, moving additional money from the general fund to a “rainy day” fund will only limit the resources available for healthcare services now and in the future.
For over 30 years, the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals and its 16,000 members have fought numerous efforts to cut resources to state health programs – in good and bad economic times. As an organization of healthcare professionals, we understand that sometimes it’s necessary to take our medicine to get better . . . even if the medicine is tough to swallow.
However, Proposition 1A will restrict healthcare services to the current levels for years to come – levels that were established after the most recent cuts and are unlikely to be restored.
According to Health Access California, it is likely that there will be further cuts to existing programs because the spending cap formula does not take into consideration that:
Medical inflation increases at a faster rate than the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Aging populations have greater healthcare needs.
During economic downturns, people who lose their jobs also lose their employer-based health coverage.
Lastly, it will be difficult to succeed in any future healthcare reform efforts if Proposition 1A passes. We are already cutting basic health services for seniors and the needy. Any new legislation to enact true healthcare reform or expand existing coverage would be virtually impossible.
Politicians are not being straight with the people of California. Proposition 1A is a placebo in every sense of the word. California voters need to vote No on Proposition 1 A.
Jimmy Gomez
Political Director
UNAC/UHCP
On May 18th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
The Republican Party is impotent in the State of California. The Democrats have enjoyed unchallenged control of the state for years. The Democrats have driven the state into insolvency with their never ending spending spree. Let’s start by cutting the salaries and benefits of state employees just like what has happened to the rest of us in the private sector!