January 29,
2008
Southwest
California Businesses Take A Stand On Ballot Propositions
The Temecula
Valley, Murrieta and Lake Elsinore Valley Chambers of
Commerce through their regional advocacy coalition, the
Southwest California Legislative Council (SWCLC) released
their positions on all statewide propositions on the
February 5, 2008 ballot.
“Each of the propositions play an important role in
impacting the economic vitality of California and our
region,” stated Greg Morrison, Chair of the SWCLC. “Our
business community needs to understand this impact and they
must play an active role by understanding how these
proposals impact jobs and our quality of life,” Morrison
continued.
Proposition 91 - Transportation Funding
SWCLC Position: NEUTRAL
The Southwest
California Legislative Council’s position on Proposition 91
is neutral because it would prohibit the use of funds that
are earmarked for transportation to be used for anything
else other than transportation related issues after July
2008. While this may not be a bad concept, the
SWCLC believes
that other avenues of borrowing funds need to be looked into
and the passage of Proposition 1A from last year’s election
already limits the use of funds for anything other than
transportation.
Generally, this
proposition eliminates General Fund borrowing of specified
transportation funds, except for cash-flow purposes. Those
require repayment within 30 days of adoption of budget which
the current law allows borrowing for three years when the
Governor declares the transfer would cause significant
negative fiscal impact on governmental functions.
Proposition
92 - Community Colleges
SWCLC Position: OPPOSE
The Southwest
California Legislative Council opposes Proposition 92 and
urges businesses to do the same. Proposition 92 would place
a strain on the already maxed out state budget. The
following points were considered when the position was
established:
- Change current
minimum education funding requirement into two separate
requirements: one for K–12 schools and one for the
California Community Colleges (CCC).
- Lower
community college education fees from $20 per unit to $15
per unit.
- Significantly limit the state’s authority to increase fee
levels in future
years.
- Formally
establish the community colleges in the State Constitution.
- Increase the size of the community colleges’ state Board
of Governors (BOG) and its authority.
- California’s
budget deficit, projected to increase to over 8 billion
dollars in 2008, will be aggravated by Prop 92.
Proposition 93 - Limits on Legislator's Terms in Office
SWCLC Position: OPPOSE
Proposition 93
would reduce the total amount of time a person may serve in
the state legislature from 14 years to 12 years. This would
allow an individual to serve a total of 12 years either in
the Assembly, the Senate, or a combination of both. The
proposition provides a transition period to allow current
members to serve a total of 12 consecutive years in the
house in which they are currently serving, regardless of any
prior service in another house.
Proposition 93
does not go far enough because term limits must be a part of
a comprehensive reform of term limits and redistricting. The
SWCLC urges state leaders to reform the State’s
redistricting process as a means towards total political
reform in California.
Propositions
94, 95, 96, 97 - Indian Gaming
SWCLC Position: SUPPORT
Governor Schwarzenegger negotiated new Indian gaming
agreements (The Compacts) with four tribes; Agua Caliente
Band of Cahuilla Indians, Morongo Band of Mission Indians,
Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, and Sycuan Band of the
Kumeyaay Nation have casino facilities on remote reservation
lands in Riverside and San Diego counties. The four
propositions represent each of the negotiated new Indian
gaming compacts.
The four propositions seek to overturn law passed by the
legislature in 2007 that expands gaming machines at the Agua
Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Morongo Band of Mission
Indians, Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, and Sycuan Band
of the Kumeyaay Nation Casinos. The compacts will also call
for the four tribes to pay a much higher percentage of their
gaming revenues to the state in return for having additional
slot machines. The revenue paid by the tribes – an estimated
$9 billion over the next two decades – can be used to pay
down the budget deficit and may be used as new funding for
schools, public safety and other services.
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