All
eight initiatives on the California special election ballot
failed, including four reform proposals that
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) put to voters after the Democrat-controlled Legislature failed to act on them. Schwarzenegger’s loss could threaten his re-election chances in 2006. The crown jewel of the governor’s reform package would have imposed strong new limits on state spending to head off the state’s chronic budget shortfalls. Schwarzenegger faced a barrage of attacks from the state's public employee unions, whose powers would have been limited by two of the ballot proposals.
- Spending cap (62.1 percent voted no) – would have amended California’s Constitution to hold state spending to the previous year's level plus a growth factor
- State employees - Both backed by Schwarzenegger, one (53.5 percent voted no) would have limited state employee unions’ use of membership dues for political purposes; the other (55.1 percent voted no) would have made it harder for teachers to gain tenure
- Redistricting - (59.5 percent voted no) would have empowered a panel of three retired judges -- rather than the Legislature -- to draw state legislative and congressional district maps.
- Prescription drugs – Two competing measures would have pushed drug makers to offer discounts for residents who struggle with the costs of prescriptions: one (58.5 percent voted no) backed by the drug companies and another (61.1 percent voted no) by consumer groups.
- Abortion (52.6 percent voted no) - proposed a constitutional requirement that a physician notify the parents of a minor seeking an abortion.
- Utility regulation (65.7 percent voted no) - Unions and consumer advocates pushed this measure, which would have allowed greater regulation of electric service providers and encouraged use of clean energy sources.
For more information:
Stateline.org stories:
Prop. 73: Abortion notification
Prop. 74: Tenure for public school teachers
Prop. 75: Union dues
Prop. 76: state budget
Prop. 77: redistricting
Props. 78 and 79: drug discounts
Prop. 80: electricity
Special election coverage from The Los Angeles Times:
State propositions on November 8 ballot - a wealth of information about the eight California initiatives, including articles, polling data and useful links.
The San Francisco Chronicle's special elections blog and coverage of specific initiatives:
Prop. 73: Abortion notification
Prop. 74: Teacher job security at issue
Prop. 75: Public employee union dues
Prop. 76: State spending, school funds
Prop. 76: More power to the guv
Prop. 77: Redistricting to a panel
Prop. 78: Voluntary Rx drug discount
Prop. 79: Required Rx drug discount
Prop. 80: Electric service providers
Wikipedia article on California special election
University of California-Berkley Institute of Governmental Studies Library special election guide
California Recovery Team - Web site in support of Schwarzenegger's reform package
California Labor Federation - Web site opposing Schwarzenegger's reform package
California Teachers Association - Web site opposing Schwarzenegger's reform package
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