Proposition 1A
Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act
Will improve existing passenger rail lines and will create new lines that will connect Northern and Southern California. The new lines will connect Southern California counties with Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys and the San Francisco Bay Area. They will be high-speed trains capable of running up to 220 mph and will cover 800 miles. The projected cost is $19.4 billion.
Proponents: This change would make railways safe, reliable and convenient.
Opponents: The total cost of the project is unknown, but could cost taxpayers $20 billion.
Proposition 2
Standards for confining animals
Requires that certain farm animals must be allowed to fully extend their limbs or wings, lie down, stand up, and turn around for the majority of each day. This change will cost several million dollars annually by decreased state and local tax revenue, because many pens will need to be redesigned to allow proper space.
Proponents: Farm animals should be treated humanely and deserve to have
normal lives.
Opponents: Farm animals are raised to be food – they do not need special treatment that will end up costing millions of dollars.
Proposition 3
Childrens Hospital Bond Act
Authorizes $980 million in general obligation bonds for expansion, construction, remodeling, renovation, furnishing, and equipping of eligible children’s hospitals. It would cost the state about $2 billion over 30 years to cover the principal and interest costs of the bonds. The payments are set at approximately $64 million per year.
Proponents: Provides money for greater bed capacity, important equipment and modern technologies.
Opponents: Allows money to go to non-children’s hospitals. The same special interest group initiated Proposition 61 (Children’s Hospital Act of 2004), and half of that money remains unspent.
Proposition 6
Police and Law Enforcement Funding
Requires a minimum of $965 million of state funding each year for police and local law enforcement and makes about 30 revisions to California criminal law. In addition to the $965 million, net state costs of $500 million annually will occur due to increased spending on criminal justice.
Proponents: Increases punishment for gang crimes, shootings, etc., and would allow more effective intervention programs to stop kids from joining gangs. Provides more funding for police, sheriffs and district attorneys.
Opponents: Takes millions of dollars away from schools, hospitals and childcare. Targets youth for adult incarceration concerning “gang-related” activities.
Proposition 7
Renewable Energy Generation
Requires that utility companies use renewable resources for 20 percent of their resources by 2010, 40 percent by 2020 and 50 percent by 2025. The impact and costs of this proposition are unknown.
Proponents: It is a balanced solution that will create jobs and make California a leader in clean energy.
Opponents: It won’t achieve its stated goals, will increase electric bills and will limit competition by forcing small companies out of business.
Proposition 9
Criminal Justice System: Victim’s Rights
This proposition would make a victim’s safety a consideration when a prisoner was about to be released. It would also require notification to victims when prisoners are up for parole and give them an opportunity for input.
Proponents: Protects taxpayers and victims, and gives them a voice.
Opponents: It is costly, unnecessary, and regulations are already in place.
Proposition 10
Alternative Fuel Vehicles and Renewable Energy
Authorizes $5 billion in bonds paid from the state’s general fund in order to aid consumers in purchasing certain vehicles, and to fund and support research in renewable energy and alternative fuel vehicles. This will cost the state $10 billion to repay bonds, will increase state and local revenues to several million dollars in the next decade, and has the potential to cause state
administrative costs up to about $10
million annually.
Proponents: Older, polluting diesel trucks will be replaced by clean alternative fuel trucks. It will help reduce dependence on foreign fuel from “hostile nations.” Alternatives to high-priced gasoline are important.
Opponents: The billions of dollars taken out of the general fund is a bad idea considering that the state is already in debt. Few mechanics will know how to work on natural gas vehicles and few filling stations offer natural gas.
