Summary of Ballot Initiatives That Affect You

• Proposition 74/Teacher Probation Extension — Misnamed the "Put the Kids First" initiative, this would increase the length of time a teacher must spend on probation from two to five years before tenure. (See CFT analysis) Petitions were turned in on May 3 by the governor, accompanied by children removed from charter schools for the day for that purpose. Download a flyer against the initiative. See critical San Francisco Chronicle article, "Carrot or Stick for New Teachers?" Or another, "In search of problem teachers," which shows there's no need for this initiative. Or a humanizing op-ed piece by a father about his teacher daughter.
• Proposition 76/Spending Cap - This "Live Within Our Means" law would dramatically reduce the money going to education. Tightens the cap on total state spending, ends protections for schools and colleges under Proposition 98, and triggers automatic across the board cuts when revenue drops. It would also lead to a drop in funding for a wide range of social services. The Los Angeles Times thinks it's "A really bad idea."
• Proposition 77/Redistricting - Would require a mid-decade redistricting. Three retired judges would draw the new legislative boundaries. This is seen as a partisan power grab because, by law, redistricting occurs only every ten years after the census. Like the rest of the governor's package, this proposal is so half-baked that even his own hand-picked Secretary of State, Bruce McPherson, is distancing himself from it. Taken off the ballot by a court ruling due to discrepancies in signature gathering, the California Supreme Court restored it on August 12.
• Teacher Merit Pay — Mandates that local districts pay teachers based on merit. Authority is given to local school boards to implement. In April the governer began to backpedal on this, refering instead to possible implementation of "combat pay" for teachers serving in difficult schools. [WITHDRAWN FOR NOW] (See CFT analysis)
• Pension Privatization — Starting in 2007, no new government employees would be eligible for defined benefit pensions. This includes STRS, PERS, and the University of California system. Instead, employees would be provided 401K style “defined contribution” plans. [WITHDRAWN FOR NOW] (See CFT analysis)

The governor's allies have also qualified a dangerous "Paycheck Deception" initiative for the ballot, Proposition 75, a new version of a Proposition 226-style limitation that would prohibit just public sector unions from donating to political campaigns. One of the governor's political action funds backed this attempt to silence the political voice of public employees (although polls are showing that most Californians support public employee unions). Meanwhile the governor has claimed on different occasions that he is for it, has nothing to do with it, and is willing to use it as a bargaining chip in discussions with the legislature.

In all, eight initiatives have qualified and have been assigned proposition numbers:

• Proposition 73: Parental notification for abortion
• Proposition 74: Teacher tenure - "Punish New Teachers Act"
• Proposition 75: Union dues checkoff - "Paycheck Deception"
• Proposition 76: Live Within Our Means budget act – "Education Cuts Act"
• Proposition 77: Reapportionment – "Governor's Unfair Remapping Plan"
• Proposition 78: Prescription drugs (industry-sponsored)
• Proposition 79: Prescription drugs (consumer/labor-sponsored) "Cheaper Prescription Drugs for Californians Act"
• Proposition 80: Electricity regulation "Affordable Electricity and Blackout Prevention Act"

CFT is working in coalition with other groups to fight against the attacks on educators and other public workers, and for two counter-initiatives on the ballot:

• Proposition 79/The Cheaper Prescription Drugs for California Act will require the state to negotiate directly with drug companies to get real discounts for millions of Californians. It will create real savings for seniors, families, small businesses and the state by utilizing the purchasing power of Medi-Cal, worth $4 billion annually. The governor, on behalf of one of his corporate special interest contributors, the pharmaceutical industry, vetoed similar legislation. Read about the differences between 78 and 79.
• Proposition 80/The Repeal of Electricity Deregulation and Blackout Prevention Act will prevent another deregulation disaster like the blackouts of 2000-2001. It will repeal failed deregulation policies, put utilities back in the business of serving all our citizens, and develop more green power renewable energy. It will help California effectively plan for the future.

For more on the coalition battle against the governor's initiatives, and for the counter-initiatives, see the website of the Alliance for a Better California.

For the latest info on the individual initiatives, go to the Secretary of State's website.

For more information on how you can get involved, contact your AFT local.