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January
20, 2008
South Bay Chambers of Commerce Release February Ballot
Proposition Positions
The South Bay Association of Chambers of Commerce
announced its positions on the February 5, 2008
statewide ballot propositions. The SBACC’s positions are
the beginning to what could be a very busy legislative
year with over twenty propositions possibly planned
before voters between February and November of 2008. The
positions are as follows:
Proposition 91 - Transportation Funding
SBACC Position: SUPPORT
This ballot measure would prohibit the use of funds that
are earmarked for transportation to be used for anything
else other than transportation related issues after July
2008. This measure eliminates General Fund borrowing of
specified transportation funds, except for cash-flow
purposes. Those require repayment within 30 days of
adoption of budget which the current law allows
borrowing for three years when the Governor declares the
transfer would cause significant negative fiscal impact
on governmental functions. The legislature would then
enact authorizing statute.
Proposition 92 - Community Colleges Funding and
Governance
SBACC Position: SUPPORT
This measure establishes in the California State
Constitution a system of independent community college
districts and a statewide Board of Governors. The
system, along with the college districts and statewide
Board of Governors would oversee the community college
system. The proposition would also set community college
fees at $15 per unit per semester and would limit fee
increases.
SBACC believes by supporting Proposition 92 it will
allow the California Community Colleges play a role in
the workforce development throughout the South Bay.
SBACC makes it a public policy priority to ensure access
to its workforce. The California Community Colleges make
an economical impact throughout California on the areas
they serve. Proposition 92 will help make sure that
California Community Colleges are affordable to those
who wish to attend for years to come and allow for local
businesses to recruit from a larger pool of educated
applicants.
Proposition 93 - Limits on Legislator's Terms in
Office
SBACC Position: OPPOSE
Proposition
93 would reduce the total amount of time a person may
serve in the state legislature from 14 years to 12
years. This would allow an individual to serve a total
of 12 years either in the Assembly, the Senate, or a
combination of both. The proposition provides a
transition period to allow current members to serve a
total of 12 consecutive years in the house in which they
are currently serving, regardless of any prior service
in another house.
SBACC opposes Proposition 93 because political reform in
California must include reforming the redistricting
process. Currently, the areas that state elected
officials represent (districts) are determined every ten
years after the census. The state legislature itself
determines the districts, not a non-partisan independent
commission. This concept has been left out of the
proposition.
Propositions 94, 95, 96, 97 – Indian Gaming Compacts
SBACC Position: OPPOSE
Governor Schwarzenegger negotiated new Indian gaming
agreements (The Compacts) with four tribes; Agua
Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Morongo Band of
Mission Indians, Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, and
Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation have casino
facilities on remote reservation lands in Riverside and
San Diego counties. The four propositions represent each
of the negotiated new Indian gaming compacts.
The four propositions seek to overturn law passed by the
legislature in 2007 that expands gaming machines at the
Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Morongo Band of
Mission Indians, Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, and
Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation Casinos. |
