(summaries courtesy of The California Voter Foundation, a nonprofit who seeks to "shape a more informed and engaged electorate by emphasizing the use of new technologies.")
Proposition 2 - standards for confining farm animals
• Requires that calves raised for veal, egg-laying hens and pregnant pigs be confined only in ways that allow these animals to lie down, stand up, fully extend their limbs and turn around freely.
• Exceptions made for transportation, rodeos, fairs, 4-H programs, lawful slaughter, research and veterinary purposes.
• Provides misdemeanor penalties, including a fine not to exceed $1,000 and/or imprisonment in jail for up to 180 days.
• Fiscal Impact: Potential unknown decrease in state and local tax revenues from farm businesses, possibly in the range of several million dollars annually.
• Fiscal Impact: Potential minor local and state enforcement and prosecution costs, partly offset by increased fine revenue.
A “YES” vote on this measure means: Beginning in 2015, state law would prohibit, with certain exceptions, the confinement on a farm of pregnant pigs, calves raised for veal, and egg-laying hens in a manner that does not allow them to turn around freely, lie down, stand up, and fully extend their limbs.
This seems to be a pretty good initiative. Minimal financial impact. More humane conditions means higher quality products. Vote yes.
Proposition 4 - would change the California Constitution to prohibit abortion for unemancipated minor until 48 hours after physician notifies minor’s parent or legal guardian
• Changes California Constitution to prohibit abortion for unemancipated minor until 48 hours after physician notifies minor’s parent or legal guardian.
• Permits notification to certain adult relatives if doctor reports parent to law enforcement or Child Protective Services.
• Provides notification exceptions for medical emergency or parental waiver.
• Permits courts to waive notice based on clear and convincing evidence of minor’s maturity or best interests.
• Mandates reporting requirements, including reports from physicians regarding abortions on minors.
• Authorizes damages against physicians for violation.
• Requires minor’s consent to abortion, with exceptions.
• Fiscal Impact: Potential unknown net state costs of several million dollars annually for health and social services programs, court administration, and state health agency administration combined.
Really? This again?! When minors do not tell their parents about an abortion it is generally for a reason. As the Young Progessive Majority group points out, “In the real world, initiatives like this force scared, pregnant teens into seeking unsafe, illegal abortions, or even to consider suicide.” If you are against abortion, go all out, quite with this slowly melting it away stuff…go to where it belongs: the federal courts! But as long as it is here, back the fuck off.
Proposition 5 - would expand treatment programs for persons convicted of drug and other offenses, and changes sentencing and parole policies
• Requires that calves raised for veal, egg-laying hens and pregnant pigs be confined only in ways that allow these animals to lie down, stand up, fully extend their limbs and turn around freely.
• Allocates $460,000,000 annually to improve and expand treatment programs for persons convicted of drug and other offenses.
• Limits court authority to incarcerate offenders who commit certain drug crimes, break drug treatment rules or violate parole.
• Substantially shortens parole for certain drug offenses; increases parole for serious and violent felonies.
• Divides Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation authority between two Secretaries, one with six year fixed term and one serving at pleasure of Governor. Provides five year fixed terms for deputy secretaries.
• Creates 19 member board to direct parole and rehabilitation policy.
• Fiscal Impact: Increased state costs over time potentially exceeding $1 billion annually primarily for expanding drug treatment and rehabilitation programs for offenders in state prisons, on parole, and in the community.
• Fiscal Impact: State savings over time potentially exceeding $1 billion annually due primarily to reduced prison and parole operating costs.
• Fiscal Impact: Net one-time state savings on capital outlay costs for prison facilities that eventually could exceed $2.5 billion.
• Fiscal Impact: Unknown net fiscal effect on county operations and capital outlay.
A “YES” vote on this measure means: Drug treatment diversion programs available primarily for persons charged or convicted for a nonviolent drug possession crime would be expanded. Some parole violators would be diverted from state prison and parole terms would be reduced for others. New rehabilitation programs would be expanded for offenders before and after they leave prison. Some inmates might receive additional credits to reduce the time they stay in state prison. Possession of less than 28.5 grams of marijuana would have a lesser penalty than under current law.
This is a chance to rehabilitate, instead of jail. This is a law all states should pass.
Proposition 8 - changes the California Constitution to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry in California
• Changes the California Constitution to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry in California.
• Provides that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.
• Fiscal Impact: Over the next few years, potential revenue loss, mainly from sales taxes, totaling in the several tens of millions of dollars, to state and local governments.
• Fiscal Impact: In the long run, likely little fiscal impact on state and local governments.
WHY DO YOU WANT TO TAKE AWAY A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT UNDER THE CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION. Even the conservative major San Diego newspaper is against this. And if you vote for it you are a bigot. Don’t ever speak to me again. That’s all.
Proposition 9 - requires notification to victim and opportunity for input during phases of criminal justice process
• Requires notification to victim and opportunity for input during phases of criminal justice process, including bail, pleas, sentencing and parole.
• Establishes victim safety as consideration in determining bail or release on parole.
• Increases the number of people permitted to attend and testify on behalf of victims at parole hearings.
• Reduces the number of parole hearings to which prisoners are entitled.
• Requires that victims receive written notification of their constitutional rights.
• Establishes timelines and procedures concerning parole revocation hearings.
• Potential loss of future state savings on prison operations and potential increased county jail operating costs that could collectively amount to hundreds of millions of dollars annually, due to restricting the early release of inmates to reduce facility overcrowding.
• Net savings in the low tens of millions of dollars annually for the administration of parole hearings and revocations, unless the changes in parole revocation procedures were found to conflict with federal legal requirements.
A “NO” vote on this measure means: Victims will continue to have the statutory right to be notified of certain criminal justice proceedings, such as sentencing and parole proceedings. Whether victim restitution would be ordered would remain subject to a judge’s discretion, and the manner in which money collected from defendants is distributed would remain unchanged. Current waiting periods for parole revocation hearings and parole consideration would remain unchanged. All parolees would continue to be entitled to receive legal representation at parole hearings. State and local governments could take steps to release inmates early to reduce jail and prison overcrowding.
Sure, the rights of the victim are extremely important. But there are already so many bars to a fair justice system in our country. We really do NOT need more. There is already a law in place that is known as a victim’s bill of rights that balances the rights of victims vs. rights of the accused. Please vote no.
1 comment:
thanks for this!
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