PROP. 24
BUSINESS TAXES
YES
Prop. 24 repeals some special-interest tax breaks that the Legislature had to accept as part of the latest budget deal. In essence, it restores about $1.7 billion worth of taxes on corporations, particularly larger ones that hide income among various affiliates. Vote yes.
PROP. 25
SIMPLE MAJORITY BUDGET PASSAGE
YES, YES, YES
Prop. 25 would be a step toward ending the budget madness that defines California politics every year. It would allow the state Legislature to pass a budget and budget-related legislation can be passed with a simple majority vote.
It's not a full solution — a two-thirds vote would still be required to pass taxes. But at least it would allow the majority party to approve a blueprint for state spending and help end the gridlock caused by a small number of Republicans. Vote yes.
PROP. 26
TWO-THIRDS VOTE FOR FEES
NO, NO, NO.
Prop. 26 would require a two-thirds supermajority vote in the Legislature and at the ballot box in local communities to pass fees, levies, charges and tax revenue allocations that under existing rules can be enacted by a simple majority vote
It's supported by the Chamber of Commerce, Chevron, Occidental Petroleum, the Wine Institute, and Aera Energy.
Opponents argue that Prop. 26 should be called the "Polluter Protection Act" because it would make it harder to impose fees on corporations that cause environmental or public health problems. For example, it would be harder to impose so-called "pollution fees" on corporations that discharge toxics into the air or water. It would also make it nearly impossible for San Francisco to impose revenue measures like the Alcohol Fee sponsored by Sup. John Avalos. It's another in a long line of attempts at the state level to block local government from raising money. Vote no.
PROP. 27
ELIMINATING REDISTRICTING COMMISSION
YES
We opposed the 2008 ballot measure creating the redistricting commission, arguing that, while allowing the state Legislature to draw its own seats is a problem, the solution would make things worse. The panel isn't at all representative of the state (it has an equal number of Republicans and Democrats) and could be insensitive to the political demographics of California cities (it makes sense, for example, to have Senate and Assembly lines in San Francisco divide the city into east and west sides because that's how the politics of the city tend to break).
This measure abolishes that panel and would allow the Legislature to draw new lines for both state and federal offices after the 2010 census. We don't love having the Legislature handle that task — but we like the existing, unaccountable, unrepresentative agency even less. Vote yes.
- « first
- ‹ previous
- 1
- 2
- 3
Related articles
Sure, the primaries are a joke -- but your vote still matters. Our take on the trash wars, the DCCC race, and more local elections
Avalos for mayor. Mirkarimi for sheriff. Onek for district attorney. Yes on C, No on D, E, and F ... complete endorsements for the San Francisco election
There are plenty of important races and issues on the ballot in the East Bay. Here are our endorsements for Berkeley and Oakland
Also from this author
It's time for official reports for planned developments that "could lead to significant displacement of existing San Francisco residents."
Don't let realtors' cash determine the future of San Francisco
Ross Mirkarimi's the sheriff, and you have to work with him
Most Commented On
Recent comments
- $20 Billion in Remittances to Mexico - May 19, 2013
- llegal aliens - May 19, 2013
- "Now if only we all had - May 19, 2013
- These kind of solutions help - May 18, 2013
- complaining about right wingers - May 18, 2013
- ". With over one million - May 18, 2013
- Well, Jesus ain't letting you into - May 18, 2013
- "Currently, there is no - May 18, 2013
- Yes, it's called Newspeak: - May 18, 2013
- why is this MY - May 18, 2013









Comments