Last month CTA asked you not to sign any of the initiatives being circulated by the governor and his corporate supporters. Now CTA has gone on the offensive. As part of the Alliance for a Better California, CTA and other organizations are circulating several petitions designed to show where the governor's loyalties really lie. CTA is also part of the Coalition for Tax Fairness, which is circulating the measure that would close a tax loophole and generate more funds for local infrastructure, including education. Your signature is critical to their success.
The California Tax Fairness Act of 2005
This ballot measure closes a loophole in the California Tax Code and forces big corporations to pay their fair share of property taxes. It would institute a "split roll" property tax, which would rebalance the property tax burden by changing the way commercial property is assessed. The new funds would provide critical resources for local infrastructure needs, including an estimated $1 billion for public education. Sponsored by the Coalition for Tax Fairness.
Same Percent Vote Requirement
This constitutional amendment would make people who sponsor ballot initiatives live by their own rules. It would require ballot measures that impose a "super-majority" vote requirement to be approved by the same super-majority of votes. [This measure, if passed, would apply to other initiatives on the ballot with it.] Sponsored by the Alliance for a Better California.
The Cheaper Prescription Drugs for California Act
This ballot measure requires the state to negotiate directly with drug companies to get real discounts for millions of Californians. It would employ a drug purchasing pool to leverage discounts for uninsured and underinsured citizens and allow the state to terminate contracts with drug manufacturers if Cal Rx Plus prices aren't comparable to or lower than Medi-Cal. This measure revives the language in legislation that passed the Legislature, but was vetoed by the governor. Sponsored by the Alliance for a Better California.
The Car Buyer's Bill of Rights
This ballot measure allows consumers to get out of a used car purchase within a three-day period, prohibits predatory loan practices that victimize low-income buyers, and stops dealers from adding hidden charges to finance contracts. This measure revives the language in a bill that passed the Legislature in 2004 — AB 1839 (Montanez) — but was vetoed by the governor. Sponsored by the Alliance for a Better California.
Repeal of Electricity Deregulation
This ballot measure would undo the deregulation of electricity service, which initially led to the state's current fiscal crisis. The rates and terms of retail electric service would be regulated by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), which must make finding the "best value for ratepayers" its primary goal along with establishing requirements for reserves to prevent future blackouts.This measure revives language contained in a bill that passed the Legislature in 2004 — AB 2006 (Nunez) — but was vetoed by the governor. Sponsored by the Alliance for a Better California.
What you can do:
- Continue to build local education coalitions to expose the governor's broken promises and protect Proposition 98.
- Don't sign petitions that put the governor's measures on the ballot.
- Do sign measures supported by the Alliance for Better California and the Coalition for Tax Fairness.
- Talk to family, friends and neighbors and ask them to do the same.
- Stay informed about the election.
- Volunteer to help.
- Put together a contingent of educators and education supporters to attend one of the May 25 rallies.
