Pacific Beach Democratic Club

Newsletter August 2006

Below is the August newsletter of your PBDC. Please note that at our meeting of this Thursday, August 10, we'll vote on ballot propositions per the attachment here. See you there!

Thursday, August 10, 7 PM – Join us at our next meeting in the community room at the entrance to the Plunge in Mission Beach. We’ll be voting on ballot propositions regarding parental notification prior to abortions, an oil tax for alternative energy, a water quality bond, public funding of campaigns, and an initiative to limit government environmental/consumer/labor protections.

At our July meeting, the PBDC voted to endorse our Democratic nominees for statewide office. Each meeting through October will feature discussion and votes on ballot propositions, including the airport. So save the 2nd Thursday of September and October to help determine your Club’s positions.

Come to our end of summer party – Sunday, Sept. 10, 4-6 PM at the home

of Phyllis McGrath, 5599 Coral Reef Ave, La Jolla 92037.

RSVP Maritza Gates MGates0222@aol.com or 858 272-3506.

Bring a dish to share or $10 in lieu.

Politics – PB and Beyond by Bill Collins

The polling is favorable for Dems in most statewide races as well as Congressionals. Although the Governor will have unlimited funds from his Chamber of Commerce buddies, Angelides will have enough money to get his message out. If Angelides reminds voters that Schwarzenegger vetoed Sheila Kuehl’s health insurance bill after receiving big bucks from the insurance industry (having pledged during the recall not to take special interest money “I have plenty of money of my own” he said), his populist message will resonate.

Republicans are frustrated that Schwarzenegger shows no interest in helping other Republicans get elected November. “Our governor cares only about one thing, and that’s Arnold Schwarzenegger,” said a friend of the Governor, moderate State Senator Abel Maldonado of San Luis Obispo, who lost the nomination for State Controller.

The Democrat most in peril seems to be Cruz Bustamante, who faces self-funded Steve Poizner for Insurance Commissioner. Cruz hadn’t polled well since the recall episode.

Locally, Francine Busby has a new campaign manager, Ray Drew, who brings energy and a plethora of ideas to replace the national money that has virtually disappeared from the campaign. Busby will make the race a referendum on the GOP’s pathetic governance. A vote for Francine will be a vote for change. And the voters aren’t happy. Picking up this seat could give the Dems control of the House. Call 760 479-0114 for your Busby yard sign or to help in other ways.

Selected Ballot Propositions. Summaries from Secretary of State

Proposition 84 Water Quality, Safety and Supply. Flood Control. Natural Resource Protection. Park Improvements. Bonds. Initiative Statute.

Authorizes $5,388,000,000 in general obligation bonds, payable from the state’s General Fund, to fund projects relating to safe drinking water, water quality and supply, flood control, waterway and natural resource protection, water pollution and contamination control, state and local park improvements, public access to natural resources, and conservation efforts. Summary by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact: State cost of about $10.5 billion over 30 years to pay off both the principal ($5.4 billion) and interest ($5.1 billion) costs on the bonds. Payments of about $350 million per year.

Proposition 85 Waiting Period and Parental Notification On Abortions. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.

Amends California Constitution to prohibit abortion for unemancipated minor until 48 hours after physician notifies minor's parent or legal guardian, except in medical emergency or with parental waiver. Permits minor to obtain court order waiving notice based on clear and convincing evidence of minor's maturity or best interests. Mandates various reporting requirements, including reports from physicians regarding abortions performed on minors. Authorizes monetary damages against physicians for violation. Requires minor's consent to abortion, with certain exceptions. Permits judicial relief if minor's consent coerced. Cost estimate: Potential unknown net state costs of several million dollars annually for health and social services programs, court administration, and state health agency administration combined.

Prop. 87 Alternative Energy. Research, Production, Incentives. Tax on California Oil. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.

Establishes $4 billion program to reduce oil and gasoline usage by 25%, with research and production incentives for alternative energy, alternative energy vehicles, energy efficient technologies, and for education and training. Funded by tax of 1.5% to 6%, depending on oil price per barrel, on producers of oil extracted in California. Prohibits producers from passing tax on to consumers. Program administered by California Energy Alternatives Program Authority. Prohibits changing tax while indebtedness remains. Revenues excluded from Proposition 98 calculations and appropriation limits. Cost estimate: New state revenues annually – depending on the interpretation of the measure’s tax rate provisions – of either about $200 million or about $380 million from the imposition of a severance tax on oil production, to be used to fund a variety of new alternative energy programs.

Proposition 89. Public Financing of Political Campaigns via Corporate Tax Increase. Contribution and Expenditure Limits. Initiative Statute.

Provides that candidates for state elective office meeting certain eligibility requirements, including collection of a specified number of $5.00 contributions from voters, may voluntarily receive public campaign funding from the Fair Political Practices Commission, in amounts varying by elective office and type of election. Increases income tax rate on corporations and financial institutions by 0.2 percent to fund program. Imposes new limits on campaign contributions to state-office candidates and campaign committees, and new restrictions on contributions and expenditures by lobbyists and corporations. Cost estimate: Increased revenues (primarily from increased taxes on corporations and financial institutions) totaling more than $200 million annually to pay for the public financing of political campaigns for state elected offices.

Proposition 90 Government Regulations. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.

Bars state and local governments from condemning or damaging private property to promote other private projects, uses. Limits government’s authority to adopt certain land use, housing, consumer, environmental and workplace laws and regulations, except when necessary to preserve public health or safety. Voids unpublished eminent domain court decisions. Defines “just compensation.” Government must occupy condemned property or lease property for public use. Condemned private property must be offered for resale to prior owner or owner’s heir at current fair market value if government abandons condemnation’s objective. Exempts certain governmental actions. Cost estimate: Unknown, but potentially significant major future costs for state and local governments to pay damages and/or modify regulatory or other policies to conform to the measure’s provisions. Unknown, potentially major changes in governmental costs to acquire property for public purposes

Additional ballot propositions will be considered at the September and October meetings.