Ballot recommendations

A list compiled from Lila Garret  --
 CONNECT THE DOTS
Monday morning at 7 on KPFK we’re going through the ballot again….this time with Rick Jacobs,  creator and leader of the very effective Courage Campaign.  Last week we had Jackie Goldberg another brilliant progressive analyst.  Yes, our side has these great people to counter the bad guys.   And we’ll talk for a few minutes about the one office we neglected last week…the Superintendent of  Education.  Tom Torlakson will be with us.  He has been endorsed by Congress people Barbara Lee and Bob Filner two of our favorites, many good groups including the the Ca. Nurses Assoc…one of the most progressive  unions in the country.  So have your ballots and pencils ready....tomorrow morning at 7 on KPFKfm   I

Lila Garrett (Host of CONNECT THE DOTS)
KPFK 90.7 FM in LA;  98.7 Santa Barbara;  93.7 San Diego
Airs Mondays from 7AM to 8AM.
To pod cast or download the broadcast just use this link:
http://archive.kpfk.org/parchive/index.php?shokey=ctd
Each show is on line for three months. 



 This brief note is from former Assembly woman Jackie Goldberg who sends out an excellent voter recommendation memo each election.  I forwarded her complete list to you weeks ago.  Now she has sent us reminders on three close, vital races.  There's a very big difference between these recommended candidates and their right-wing opposition.  Your vote on Tuesday is urgent.  The ultra-right is determined to take over.  Only our votes can stop them.   See you at the polls. Lila Garrett

From Jackie Goldberg:
Remember to get other people to the  polls and to get there yourself.
The insurance companies are pouring in dough to elect a "good friend of
theirs" over Dave Jones (Insurance Commissioner),
with whom I served.  Dave Jones is great! and needs your support.
Insurance Commissioner is a critical position in California State government, as is
Attorney General of the State.

Kamala Harris, for Attorney General is in a dead heat with that "I love the
death penalty" guy Steve Cooley from L.A. County.

And finally, Gavin Newsom (Lieutenant Governor) is in a very, very close race
with the cute, friendly and VERY CONSERVATIVE  Abel Maldonado.

Tell everyone, these races matter too.  Thanks to all of you for doing your
part, now and again on Tuesday.

 
Here  is the link to voting recommendations on the ballot propositions compiled by the Courage Campaign.  Several organizations are represented.  I am voting with the Courage Campaign itself except on Proposition 27.  I am voting YES on 27.  It’s all on one page, very attractively done.  Even cheerful.  In this hostile climate we need that.  The Courage Campaign continues to prove it’s organizational excellence thanks to Rick Jacobs, it’s founder and leader and his excellent staff.   Rick will be on my program, CONNECT THE DOTS, On Monday morning from 7 to 8 when we again will go through the ballot with our listeners.  Info on the broadcast is below.  Meanwhile, download this link and take it with you to the polls on Tuesday.  It makes voting a pleasure.  http://www.couragecampaign.org/2010VoterGuide <http://www.couragecampaign.org/2010VoterGuide>

 
Ballot Measures from Progressive Democrats

Version:1.0 StartHTML:0000000149 EndHTML:0000009237 StartFragment:0000000199 EndFragment:0000009203 StartSelection:0000000199 EndSelection:0000009203 CA NOVEMBER 2nd BALLOT PROPOSITIONS
Progressive Democrats of Los Angeles' Quick Reference Guide

Prop 19  (marijuana legalization) - YES

Prop 20  (congressional redistricting) - NO

Prop 21  (vehicle license surcharge for parks) - YES

Prop 22  (protection of local govt. funds) - YES

Prop 23  (suspend air pollution control) - NO

Prop 24  (repeals lower corporate taxes) - YES

Prop 25  (majority vote for state budget)  YES

Prop 26  (2/3rds vote for levies/charges) - NO

Prop27(repeals redistricting commission)  YES


To download the Sec. of State's Voter Information Guide, visit
www.sos.ca.gov <http://www.sos.ca.gov/> , or call 800-345-VOTE (8683) to order one.

Details on each ballot proposition below:

> PROPOSITION 19 -- MARIJUANA -- Allows people 21 or older to possess,
> cultivate, or transport marijuana for personal use, subject to regulation
> and taxation.  Prohibits use in public or when minors are present.
> Prohibits providing marijuana to anyone under 21.  Major funding support
> ($1.2 million) provided by S. K. Seymour, LLC (a medical cannabis provider),
> and Oaksterdam University.

Rationale for our YES recommendation:  Stops wasting taxpayer dollars on
failed marijuana prohibition which disproportionately impacts communities of
color; weakens drug cartels.
>
> PROPOSITION 20 -- CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING -- Transfers authority for
> redistricting congressional districts from the Legislature to the Citizens
> Redistricting Commission.  The Commission, which was established by
> Proposition 11 (2008), already has redistricting authority for legislative
> seats and the board of equalization.  Major funding support ($3 million)
> provided by Charles T. Munger, Jr., a physicist whose father, billionaire
> Charles T. Munger, is vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway.

Rationale for our NO recommendation:
Removes accountability for redistricting from the electorate to a bureaucratic
commission, a Republican effort to seize 55 electoral votes.
>
> PROPOSITION 21 -- SURCHARGE FOR PARKS -- Establishes $18 annual state
> vehicle license surcharge to be used solely to operate, maintain, and repair
> the state park system, and protect wildlife and natural resources.  Grants
> free admission to all state parks to vehicles paying the surcharge.  Exempts
> commercial vehicles, trailers, and trailer coaches.  Major funding support
> provided by Sempervirens Fund (redwoods protection group), Peninsula Open
> Space Trust, Conservation Action Fund, Save the Redwoods League, National
> Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, California State Parks Foundation,
> and Wildlands Support Fund.

Rationale for our YES position:
Surcharge revenue will be used to fund state parks that are under the budget axe.
>
> PROPOSITION 22 -- LOCAL GOVERNMENT -- Prohibits state from shifting, taking,
> borrowing, or restricting use of revenues dedicated to local government
> services, community redevelopment projects, and transportation projects and
> services.  Prohibits the state from delaying distribution of tax revenues
> for these purposes.  Major funding support provided by League of California
> Cities and California Alliance for Jobs (a group including Associated
> General Contractors, Operating Engineers, Carpenters Union, and Association
> of Engineering Construction Employers).

Rationale for our YES recommendation:
Protects local services: 911 emergency response, police, fire, libraries,
transit, road repairs.
>
>
> PROPOSITION 23 -- SUSPENSION OF AIR POLLUTION CONTROL LAWS -- Suspends the
> state's greenhouse gas reduction law until California's unemployment rate
> has been 5.5 percent or less for four consecutive quarters.  Suspends
> requirements for increased renewable energy and cleaner fuel, as well as
> mandatory emission reporting and fee requirements for major polluters such
> as power plants and oil refineries.  Major funding support provided by
> Valero (a Texas-based oil refiner and wholesaler), Howard Jarvis Taxpayers
> Association, World Oil Corp., Tower Energy Group, Tesoro Companies, Southern
> Counties Oil Co., and Jaco Oil Co.

Rationale for our NO recommendation:
Preserves California's clean air and water laws; will save a million jobs.
>
> > PROPOSITION 24 -- CORPORATE TAXES -- Repeals recent legislation which
> lowered corporate taxes by allowing businesses to shift operating losses to
> prior tax years; expanding the time in which losses can be shifted; allowing
> businesses to share tax credits with affiliated corporations; and allowing
> multi-state companies to use a sales-based income calculation rather than
> one based on property, payroll, and sales.  Major funding support provided
> by California Teachers Association ($2.2 million).  Major opposition funding
> provided by Fox Group, Time Warner, CBS, General Electric, Cisco Systems,
> Amgen, Walt Disney Company, and Genentech, Inc.

Rationale for our YES recommendation:
Stops $1.7 billion in new special tax breaks for wealthy multi-state corporations.
>
> PROPOSITION 25 -- MAJORITY VOTE FOR STATE BUDGET -- Lowers the legislative
> vote required for adopting a state budget from two-thirds to a simple
> majority.  Major funding support provided by California Federation of
> Teachers, AFSCME, California School Employees Association, California
> Faculty Association, and California Professional Firefighters.  Major
> opposition funding provided by California Chamber of Commerce, The Wine
> Institute, MillerCoors, California Beer & Beverage Distributors, Crown
> Imports LLC, and ConocoPhillips.

Rationale for our YES recommendation:
Reforms California's broken state budget process; prevents Republicans, the minority,
from holding Democrats, the majority, hostage by refusing to pass a budget or tax the oil companies.

> PROPOSITION 26 -- TWO-THIRDS VOTE FOR LEVIES AND CHARGES -- Increases to
> two-thirds, from a simple majority, the vote required for the Legislature to
> adopt state levies and charges, with limited exceptions.  Requires
> two-thirds vote of the public for local levies and charges, with limited
> exceptions.  Proponent:  Allan Zaremberg, president of California Chamber of
> Commerce.

Rationale for our NO recommendation:
Makes it harder for California to climb out of debt because fees and charges not currently
considered taxes would be redefined as taxes, requiring a 2/3rds vote of the legislature.
>
>
> PROPOSITION 27 -- REPEAL OF REDISTRICTING COMMISSION -- Eliminates the
> Citizens Redistricting Commission that was established by Proposition 11
> (2008), and returns the job of drawing state legislative and board of
> equalization districts to the Legislature.  Proponent:  Daniel H.
> Lowenstein, UCLA professor of law, former chairman of California Fair
> Political Practices Commission.

Rationale for our YES recommendation:
Stop the Republican power grab; save taxpayer money; return the
responsibility to the state legislature.