Props on Education,Trafficking and 'Three Strikes' Law Pass
Election day in California wrapped up Tuesday with voters narrowly approving Governor Jerry Brown's proposed $6 billion-a-year tax plan to fund education and help balance the state budget.
Under Proposition 30, sales taxes will increase by 1/4 cent for four years to fund schools and taxes on earnings over $250,000 will increase for seven years.
"I am tremendously grateful to the voters of California for making the difficult decision to support Proposition 30," said Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent John Deasy. "It is apparent that the voters are aware of the devastating cuts schools districts have taken in the past 5 years. They have said enough is enough."
Had Prop. 30 not passed, schools could have lost millions of dollars. The LAUSD said that would have meant possibly shortening the school year by three weeks. Community colleges and public universities would have seen fewer slots and tuition hikes.
Voters rejected Prop. 32, which would have prohibited unions from using payroll-deducted funds for political purposes. The Proposition would have eliminated unions' primary fundraising tool and deduct from members' paychecks for political campaigns.
"This hard-fought victory for democracy exposed the real agenda of the corporate special interests behind Proposition 32," said Dean E. Vogel, president of the California Teachers Association. "Those millionaires and billionaires never cared about the checks and balances of our democracy, only the checks they could write to buy even more political influence in Sacramento and Washington."
This is the third time in less than 15 years that voters have rejected ballot measures regarding the control of union voices.
Voters also rejected Prop. 34 which would have repealed the death penalty and replaced it with life imprisonment without possibility of parole.
Other propositions that passed Tuesday night were Prop. 36 and Prop. 35.
The passing of Prop. 35 means that prison terms and fines for human trafficking convictions will increase. Previously convicted traffickers will have to register as sex offenders.
Prop. 36, amending the "three strikes" law, was also passed by voters. The revision to the law means that imposing a life sentence may only occur with a serious or violent third felony.
California voters rejected Prop. 37 and Prop. 38.
Prop. 37 would have required specific labellings on foods sold to consumers made from plants or animals with genetic material changed in specific way.
Prop. 38 was a tax to fund education and early childhood programs. A yes vote would have increased personal income taxes for 12 years to help fund schools, child care, preschools and state debt payments.
We reached out to both sides on Propositions 30 and 32. We will provide updated content as we receive it.
