Proposition 32: It's not what it seems
November initiative claims to be about stopping special interest money - but it creates special exemptions that give even more power to billionaire businessmen.Proposition 32 - the so-called "Stop Special Interest Money Now Act" - purports to be a "simple, fair and balanced solution... limiting both corporate and union political giving." Prop 32's backers claim that the measure bans both corporate and union contributions to candidates, prohibits campaign contributions from government contractors, prohibits corporations and unions from collecting political funds from employees and members via voluntary payroll deduction, and makes all employee political contributions by any other means strictly voluntary, requiring annual written consent. Sounds fair and balanced, right? It's not.
Take a closer look
Prop 32 is more appropriately called the Special Exemptions Act, because it was intentionally written to create special exemptions for billionaire businessmen, giving them even more political power to write their own set of rules.
Prop 32 unfairly singles out and limits the voices of teachers, our local nurses and the firefighters who keep us safe. It takes away the ability of these everyday heroes to speak out on issues that matter to us all--like cuts to our schools and colleges, police and fire response times, workplace safety, consumer protections, homeowner rights and unfair corporate tax giveaways.
Prop 32 is not going to solve Sacramento's problems, because it was intentionally written to exempt many companies like Wall Street investment firms, hedge funds, real estate developers, and others from the ban on contributions, and it specifically exempts insurance companies from the ban on payroll deductions. In addition, these groups can still create separate front groups and make unlimited expenditures supporting candidates. It's not a balanced approach.
"We must fight to maintain our rightfully-held political voice," said Yvonne R. Walker, Local 1000 president. "Proposition 32 threatens our ability to speak up for state workers and for all Californians."
"Today, corporations outspend labor unions by a 15-1 margin," said Walker. "We cannot afford to allow big business to further tilt the scales towards their own self interest.
Non-partisan "good-government" groups sign on against Prop 32.
Click here to read more >>
Prop 32 is more appropriately called the Special Exemptions Act, because it was intentionally written to create special exemptions for billionaire businessmen, giving them even more political power to write their own set of rules.
Prop 32 unfairly singles out and limits the voices of teachers, our local nurses and the firefighters who keep us safe. It takes away the ability of these everyday heroes to speak out on issues that matter to us all--like cuts to our schools and colleges, police and fire response times, workplace safety, consumer protections, homeowner rights and unfair corporate tax giveaways.
Prop 32 is not going to solve Sacramento's problems, because it was intentionally written to exempt many companies like Wall Street investment firms, hedge funds, real estate developers, and others from the ban on contributions, and it specifically exempts insurance companies from the ban on payroll deductions. In addition, these groups can still create separate front groups and make unlimited expenditures supporting candidates. It's not a balanced approach.
"We must fight to maintain our rightfully-held political voice," said Yvonne R. Walker, Local 1000 president. "Proposition 32 threatens our ability to speak up for state workers and for all Californians."
"Today, corporations outspend labor unions by a 15-1 margin," said Walker. "We cannot afford to allow big business to further tilt the scales towards their own self interest.
Non-partisan "good-government" groups sign on against Prop 32.
Click here to read more >>