Schwarzenegger calls 'Year of Reform' special election

struggle4progress

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Mon Jun-13-05 07:26 PM
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Schwarzenegger calls 'Year of Reform' special election

By Tom Chorneau
ASSOCIATED PRESS

5:10 p.m. June 13, 2005

<snip> Schwarzenegger's announcement sets in motion a showdown with teachers, public employee unions and Democrats in a campaign that is expected to be costly and bitter. Interest groups aligned for and against various initiatives have said they are raising tens of millions of dollars. <snip>

The state's Democratic leaders reacted swiftly, saying Schwarzenegger has failed to negotiate with them and instead has spent his time raising millions of dollars for the special election.

"After months of name-calling, finger-pointing and scapegoating, we have come to this point. Tonight, the governor pulled the trigger on a special election no one needs and very few Californians even want," Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez said. "What this election will do, however, is once again crowd our airwaves with negative, deceptive political ads and pit Californians against one another. It will create a permanent, divisive distraction from the real issues facing our state."

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20050613-1710-ca-specialelection.html

Governor Calls Special Election
Published: June 13, 2005

<snip> The governor wants voters to consider ballot measures that would impose a cap on state spending, redraw legislative districts and increase the time it takes teachers to gain tenure. Perhaps even more important to rival Democrats, however, is an initiative promoted by Schwarzenegger supporters that would restrict the use of union dues for political purposes. If approved, it would dry up a key source of campaign money for Democrats.

The governor is expected to call for the election during a televised announcement from his Capitol office at 5:01 p.m. He is forging ahead despite a recent poll that shows a majority of voters are opposed to a special election, estimated to cost anywhere from $45 million to $80 million. <snip>

http://www.sacunion.com/pages/sacramento/articles/5090/

Measures expected to appear on California special election ballot

<snip> TEACHER TENURE: Would increase the time required for public school teachers to gain tenure, from two complete consecutive school years to five. Schwarzenegger says two years isn't enough time to determine whether a teacher deserves permanent employment. The California Teachers Association opposes the measure, saying it's already hard to attract qualified teachers. If faced with a five-year probationary period, most candidates will look for jobs elsewhere, the union says.
Status: Qualified for the ballot.

CONGRESSIONAL AND LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS: A constitutional amendment requiring congressional and state legislative districts to be drawn by a three-member panel of retired judges, rather than by lawmakers. The new boundaries would take effect as soon as possible, rather than waiting until the next scheduled census in 2010 when redistricting is typically done. Schwarzenegger says the current system of setting legislative boundaries, in which lawmakers themselves determine the districts, creates seats that have no real competition. Members of Congress and state legislative leaders in both parties have been wary of this measure but have indicated they would support it if the redistricting is postponed until after the next census in 2010.
Status: Qualified for the ballot.

STATE SPENDING CAP: Would change minimum school funding requirements and limit state spending to previous year's total plus revenue growth. Schwarzenegger says this measure is necessary because several of the state's mandatory spending programs - especially Proposition 98, which sets a minimum funding level for public schools - cannot be supported by tax revenue. Opponents say the measure would result in devastating cuts to public education and to local services such as law enforcement.
Status: Qualified for the ballot. <snip>

http://www.fresnobee.com/state_wire/story/10678776p-11462394c.html