Official November 2012 Ballot Initiatives
The Schools and Public Safety Protection Act of 2012
The state budget has been hit hard by the recession, on top of the overall problem of not enough revenue to provide important public services. This measure prevents $6 billion in immediate cuts to schools, colleges, and local public safety by raising income taxes on the wealthy and temporarily increasing the state sales tax by 1/4 cent.
It's an important investment on the road to recovery.
The Special Exemptions Act
The non-partisan California League of Women Voters, Common Cause, and newspapers throughout the state are calling this measure "deceptive," "biased," and "one-sided."
Governor Pete Wilson tried and failed. And then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger tried and failed. The initiative's corporate special interests are trying to rewrite the rules in their favor, giving them special exemptions to spend unlimited amounts of secret money to influence elections.
Even worse, it's designed to single out and limit the voices of teachers, analysts, firefighters, nurses and all state employees on issues important to all Californians.
CA Government Performance & Accountability ActAnother ballot measure written and financed by a billionaire, this measure is a patchwork of so-called budget reforms that will only add to the current ineffectiveness of the state legislature.
Insurance Persistency Discounts ActFinanced solely by insurance billionaire George Joseph, this complicated ballot measure gives insurance companies the power to raise rates on good drivers who let their auto insurance lapse ... even if the reason it lapsed is because you were not driving.
Three Strikes Reform Act of 2012
Continues to impose life sentences when criminals commit violent or serious offenses, while not requiring a life sentence when the "third strike" is a more minor offense like petty theft or simple drug possession.
Molly Munger's State Income Tax Increase
This measure means a 12-year income tax increase for state income taxes for most Californians. COPE members recommend a No vote on this measure and urge a Yes on Prop. 30 instead.
State Senate Redistricting Plan
Support the work of the Citizen's Redistricting Commission, which took away the power of the legislature to draw their own legislative districts.