By the time you read your next issue of the Carlsbad Business Journal you will have survived another pre-election onslaught of political direct mail, television, print ads and perhaps even that activist tea party neighbor who believes Armageddon is just past November 2.
If you wish to vote on measures based on their positive or negative effects, this article may allow you to toss a lot of junk mail. The Government Affairs Committee regularly reviews legislation and propositions to determine whether they are pro- or anti-business and whether they affect business in Carlsbad. The Board of Directors then votes to support or oppose or take no position.
The following measures on the ballot have been reviewed and here are the Chamber's official positions — a mini-, pro-business voters' guide. The Chamber has also weighed in on AB 1998, the Single Use Carryout Bag Ban.
Many positions are based on the Chamber's Public Policy Guide, which was developed to streamline the legislation review process. You can find more information and a nonpartisan evaluation of these measures at http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/main.aspx.
No, we didn't analyze the marijuana initiative. You're on you own for that one!
YES on Proposition 22:
Ban on State Borrowing from
Local Governments
Under the proposal, the state would not be allowed to borrow or take revenue derived from locally imposed taxes, such as hotel taxes, parcel taxes, utility taxes, and sales taxes. Also the state would be precluded from borrowing local public transit and transportation funds, including funds from the Proposition 42 gas tax.
NO POSITION on
Proposition 23:
The Suspension of AB32, the Global Warming Act of 2006
The goal of the Initiative is to freeze the provisions of AB 32 until California's unemployment rate drops to 5.5 percent or below for four consecutive quarters. AB 32 requires that greenhouse emission levels in the state be cut to 1990 levels by 2020, in a gradual process of cutting that is slated to begin in 2012.
NO on Proposition 24: (Repeal of Corporate Tax Breaks)
The initiative would stop several corporate tax breaks that are slated to go into effect in 2010 and 2012. Proposition 24 would prevent corporations that are eligible for the tax breaks from receiving about $2.5 billion in tax breaks per year.
NO on Proposition 25:
Majority Vote for Legislature to Pass the Budget
The goal of the Initiative is to end the current requirement in the state that two-thirds of the members of the California State Legislature must vote in favor of the state's budget in order for a budget to be enacted. It also requires state legislators to forfeit their pay in years where they have failed to pass a budget in a timely fashion.
YES on Proposition 26:
Supermajority Vote to Pass New Taxes and Fees
The proposed Initiative would require a two-thirds supermajority vote in the California State Legislature to pass many fees, levies, charges and tax revenue allocations that under existing rules can be enacted by a simple majority vote.
Supporters of the initiative call it the Stop Hidden Taxes initiative, because they believe that fees, levies, and so on imposed by the California government amount to taxes, and should therefore require the same supermajority vote required to enact income or sales tax increases.
NO on Proposition 27:
Elimination of Citizen Redistricting Commission
If approved, this measure would repeal California Proposition 11 (2008), which authorized the creation of the California Citizens Redistricting Commission. It would also modify the provision in California law that says that proposed congressional districts can't be subjected to a veto referendum.
NO on AB 1998:
Single Use Carryout Bag Ban
Assembly Bill 1998, by Assembly Member Julia Brownley (D-Santa Monica), would prohibit convenience food stores, food marts, and certain specified stores from providing a single-use carryout bag to a customer.
This legislation would require a store to only provide reusable bags, as defined, or to make available for sale recycled paper bags at a reasonable cost, but not less than $0.05.
The bill would, beginning January 1, 2013, require a reusable bag manufacturer to obtain a biennial certification from the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery by submitting a certification fee and a certification that its reusable bag meets specified requirements.
YES on Proposition G:
Public Safety Employee Pensions
On July 27, 2010, the Carlsbad City Council decided to ask Carlsbad voters to amend the city's charter to give residents control over safety employee pension benefits. If this initiative passes by a simple majority, any future increases in the public safety employee pension benefit formula will be subject to voter approval.
If you wish to vote on measures based on their positive or negative effects, this article may allow you to toss a lot of junk mail. The Government Affairs Committee regularly reviews legislation and propositions to determine whether they are pro- or anti-business and whether they affect business in Carlsbad. The Board of Directors then votes to support or oppose or take no position.
The following measures on the ballot have been reviewed and here are the Chamber's official positions — a mini-, pro-business voters' guide. The Chamber has also weighed in on AB 1998, the Single Use Carryout Bag Ban.
Many positions are based on the Chamber's Public Policy Guide, which was developed to streamline the legislation review process. You can find more information and a nonpartisan evaluation of these measures at http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/main.aspx.
No, we didn't analyze the marijuana initiative. You're on you own for that one!
YES on Proposition 22:
Ban on State Borrowing from
Local Governments
Under the proposal, the state would not be allowed to borrow or take revenue derived from locally imposed taxes, such as hotel taxes, parcel taxes, utility taxes, and sales taxes. Also the state would be precluded from borrowing local public transit and transportation funds, including funds from the Proposition 42 gas tax.
NO POSITION on
Proposition 23:
The Suspension of AB32, the Global Warming Act of 2006
The goal of the Initiative is to freeze the provisions of AB 32 until California's unemployment rate drops to 5.5 percent or below for four consecutive quarters. AB 32 requires that greenhouse emission levels in the state be cut to 1990 levels by 2020, in a gradual process of cutting that is slated to begin in 2012.
NO on Proposition 24: (Repeal of Corporate Tax Breaks)
The initiative would stop several corporate tax breaks that are slated to go into effect in 2010 and 2012. Proposition 24 would prevent corporations that are eligible for the tax breaks from receiving about $2.5 billion in tax breaks per year.
NO on Proposition 25:
Majority Vote for Legislature to Pass the Budget
The goal of the Initiative is to end the current requirement in the state that two-thirds of the members of the California State Legislature must vote in favor of the state's budget in order for a budget to be enacted. It also requires state legislators to forfeit their pay in years where they have failed to pass a budget in a timely fashion.
YES on Proposition 26:
Supermajority Vote to Pass New Taxes and Fees
The proposed Initiative would require a two-thirds supermajority vote in the California State Legislature to pass many fees, levies, charges and tax revenue allocations that under existing rules can be enacted by a simple majority vote.
Supporters of the initiative call it the Stop Hidden Taxes initiative, because they believe that fees, levies, and so on imposed by the California government amount to taxes, and should therefore require the same supermajority vote required to enact income or sales tax increases.
NO on Proposition 27:
Elimination of Citizen Redistricting Commission
If approved, this measure would repeal California Proposition 11 (2008), which authorized the creation of the California Citizens Redistricting Commission. It would also modify the provision in California law that says that proposed congressional districts can't be subjected to a veto referendum.
NO on AB 1998:
Single Use Carryout Bag Ban
Assembly Bill 1998, by Assembly Member Julia Brownley (D-Santa Monica), would prohibit convenience food stores, food marts, and certain specified stores from providing a single-use carryout bag to a customer.
This legislation would require a store to only provide reusable bags, as defined, or to make available for sale recycled paper bags at a reasonable cost, but not less than $0.05.
The bill would, beginning January 1, 2013, require a reusable bag manufacturer to obtain a biennial certification from the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery by submitting a certification fee and a certification that its reusable bag meets specified requirements.
YES on Proposition G:
Public Safety Employee Pensions
On July 27, 2010, the Carlsbad City Council decided to ask Carlsbad voters to amend the city's charter to give residents control over safety employee pension benefits. If this initiative passes by a simple majority, any future increases in the public safety employee pension benefit formula will be subject to voter approval.