From: GAYLESBLA@aol.com Date: Wed, 30 Oct 1996 13:10:24 -0500 Subject: L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center Voter Guide Please post everywhere! Thank you. L.A. GAY & LESBIAN CENTER'S VOTER GUIDE CALIFORNIA STATEWIDE BOND MEASURES/BALLOT INITIATIVES GET OUT AND VOTE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1996 The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center OPPOSES PROP. 209, which would ban affirmative action, AND SUPPORTS PROP. 215, which would allow use of marijuana for medical purposes. We took no position in any of the other initiatives. (Unless otherwise noted, organizations listed are based in California.) Prop. 204 - Safe Clean Reliable Water Bond: Authorizes $995 million in bonds to pay for water programs that will restore the environment, increase water supplies, prevent water pollution and protect against floods. Supporters (Partial List): (an alliance of business, water and environmental groups) Environmental Defense Fund, CA League of Conservation Voters, Save SF Bay Association and the CA Chamber of Commerce, L.A. Times Opponents (Partial List): Libertarian party, which traditionally opposes all bond proposals. Prop. 205 - Prison Construction Bond: Authorizes $700 million in bonds for building and repairing county prisons. Supporters (Partial List): (law enforcement agencies) CA State Sheriffs' Association, CA District Attorneys' Association, L.A. Times Opponents (Partial List): (groups against "three strikes" law and those who believe public money is better spent on educational opportunities, youth programs, jobs, etc.) American Friends Service Committee, National Lawyers Guild Prop. 206 - Veteran Home Loan Bond: Authorizes $400 million in bonds to help all veterans, regardless of need, to buy farms or homes. Supporters (Partial List): CA Assn. of County Veterans Service Officers, CA Assn. of Realtors, CA Labor Federation, all state senators and assemblymembers, L.A. Times Opponents (Partial List): (opponents argue that this program duplicates the Fed. VA Program and that assistance should be determined by need) Coalition to End Homelessness Prop. 207 - Guarantee Public's Right to An Attorney: Bans restrictions on the right to negotiate attorney's fees. Supporters (Partial List): Consumer Attorneys of California Opponents (Partial List): National Fed. of Independent Businesses, CA Chamber of Commerce, Gov. Wilson, L.A. Times Prop. 208 - Campaign Contributions & Spending Limits. Restricts Lobbyists - Common Cause Initiative: Limits campaign contribution per candidate: $100-districts of less than 100,000, $250-larger districts, $500-statewide races. Small contributors' committees may donate twice the stated limits as may contributors to candidates who have spending caps. Restricts all contributions to $25K in a 2-yr. period. Limits candidate's loan to his/her campaign: $50K for governor, $20K for rest. Bans fund transfers between candidates. Limits time for fundraising. Prohibits lobbyists' contributions. Must disclose ballot measures' top donors. Increases penalties under the Political Reform Act. Provides incentives to candidates if they accept voluntary spending limits. Supporters (Partial List): League of Women Voters, American Assn. of Retired Persons, Common Cause, United We Stand America; L.A. Times Opponents (Partial List): CA Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG), Stonewall Democratic Club, Mexican American Political Assn., CA Teachers Assn., SEIU, CA Labor Fed. Prop. 209 - Ban on Affirmative Action: Eliminates all public affirmative action programs and weakens state protection from gender discrimination. (Discrimination against lesbians and gay men frequently takes the form of gender discrimination.) Supporters (Partial List): Gov. Pete Wilson, Sen. Bob Dole, CA Republican Party, Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren, Congressman Dornan, Lou Sheldon's Traditional Values Coalition Opponents (Partial List): L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), ACLU, Lambda Legal Defense Fund, Human Rights Campaign, CA Democratic Party, Rosa Parks, President Bill Clinton, Gen. Colin Powell, Mayor Riordan, Assemblymember Sheila Kuehl, L.A. Times, singer Bruce Springsteen, LIFE Lobby Prop. 210 - Minimum Wage Increase: Mandates an increase in the state's minimum wage from $4.25 per hour to $5 an hour in March 1997 and $5.75 in March 1998. Supporters (Partial List): Mexican American Legal Defense & Educ. Fund, CA Labor Federation, Congress of CA Seniors, CA Council of Churches, ACLU Opponents (Partial List): CA Restaurant Association, CA Hotel & Motel Assn., CA Retailers Assn, L.A. Times Prop. 211 - Retirement Income Protection & Security: Would hold companies liable to any person who suffers stock losses as a result of fraud. Supporters (Partial List): (plaintiffs' attorneys, labor, consumer & institutional investment groups) American Assn. of Retired Persons, CA Keating Victims, CA Labor Federation, Consumer Federation of CA, CA Democratic Party Opponents (Partial List): (opponents contend that making CA law tougher than other states would send business and jobs out of CA) B of A, CA Chamber of Commerce, Nat'l Venture Capital Assn., CA Republican Party, Pres. Bill Clinton, Sen. Bob Dole, L.A. Times Prop. 212 - Campaign Contributions & Spending Limits; Repeals Gifts & Honoraria Limits; Restricts Lobbyists - CALPIRG Initiative: Limits campaign contributions per candidate: $200-statewide offices, $100-most others. Permits small contributors' committees 100 times the individual limit. Limits out-of-district contributions to 25%. Bans businesses, unions and nonprofits' direct contributions. Limits time for fundraising. Bans fund transfers between candidates. Prohibits lobbyists' contributions. Restricts individual contributions to $2K/yr., all others to $10K/yr. Limits candidate's loan to his/her campaign: $25K for governor, $10K for others. Repeals the ban on gifts & honoraria to candidates. Unlike 208, this one imposes mandatory spending limits per candidate, which appears to be unconstitutional under U.S. Supreme Court & other federal court rulings. Supporters (Partial List): CA Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG), Mexican American Political Assn., CA Teachers Assn., CA Federation of Labor Opponents (Partial List): League of Women Voters, American Assn. of Retired Persons, Common Cause, United We Stand America; L.A. Times; Stonewall Democratic Club Prop. 213 - Limitations on Recovery to Felons, Uninsured Motorists & Drunk Drivers: Prohibits "noneconomic damages" such as pain & suffering for uninsured or drunk drivers though they may still seek damages for medical benefits, lost wages or vehicle damage. Prevents felons from suing for damages or injuries sustained while committing or fleeing their crime. Supporters (Partial List): Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush; insurance industry including Farmers, Mercury General & State Farm Opponents (Partial List): L.A. Times; consumer groups including Prop. 103 Enforcement Project, Consumer Action & United Policyholders; Stonewall Democratic Club; ACLU Prop. 214 - Regulation of Health Maintenance Organizations - SEIU Initiative: Bars HMOs from denying care without physical exam. Requires more comprehensive staffing standards. Bars HMOs from using financial incentives to withhold care. Bars "gag orders" against doctors and nurses. Requires better dissemination of info to the public. Requires HMOs and insurers to disclose patient care expenses versus exec. salaries and corporate overhead. Requires majority vote of Legislature to amend. Supporters (Partial List): SEIU, CA Fed. of Teachers, United Cerebral Palsy Assn., CA Physicians Alliance, Children Now; San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Stonewall Democratic Club, ACT-UP Los Angeles, ACLU Opponents (Partial List): Business interests led by HMOs and hospitals; CA Chamber of Commerce; CA Taxpayers Assn.; CA Dental Assn.; local chambers of commerce; L.A. Times Prop. 215 - Medical Use of Marijuana: Exempts from criminal prosecution patients & defined caregivers for possessing or cultivating marijuana for medical treatment as recommended by a physician. Provides that physician who recommends use shall not be punished. Supporters (Partial List): L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, APLA, San Francisco AIDS Foundation, LIFE AIDS Lobby, Log Cabin Republicans, Stonewall Democratic Club, San Francisco Board of Supervisors and Mayor Willie Brown, West Hollywood City Council, American Public Health Assn., ACLU Opponents (Partial List): Gov. Pete Wilson, Sen Bob. Dole, President Clinton's Drug Czar Barry McCaffrey, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, CA Medical Assn., CA Peace Officers Assn., Partnership for a Drug Free America, L.A. Times Prop. 216 - Regulation of Health Maintenance Organization. Taxes on Corporate Restructuring - CA Nurses Assn. Initiative: Bars HMOs from denying care without physical exam. Requires more comprehensive staffing standards. Bars HMOs from using financial incentives to withhold care. Bars "gag orders" against doctors and nurses. Establishes a nonprofit consumer advocate. Bars insurers from requiring mandatory arbitration in malpractice claims. Bars increases in premiums unless "financially necessary." Requires 2/3 vote of Legislature to amend. (One of the primary differences with 214 is that 216 imposes taxes on corporate restructuring and other taxes with revenues allocated for public health services such as trauma care and preventive care.) Supporters (Partial List): Ralph Nader, CA Nurses Association, consumer activist Harvey Rosenfield, ACT-UP Los Angeles, actor Christopher Reeve, ACLU Opponents (Partial List): Business interests led by HMOs and hospitals; CA Chamber of Commerce; CA Taxpayers Assn.; CA Dental Assn.; local chambers of commerce; L.A. Times Prop. 217 - Reinstatement of Top Income Tax Brackets. Revenues to Local Agencies: Retroactively reinstates highest tax rates of 10% & 11% on single taxpayers with taxable incomes over $115,000 & $230,000 respectively, & joint taxpayers with taxable incomes over $230,000 & $460,000 respectively. Allocate revenues from those rates to local agencies. Supporters (Partial List): League of Women Voters, CA Teachers Assn, Sierra Club; counties including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Alameda, Riverside & San Bernardino Opponents (Partial List): CA Chamber of Commerce, Nat'l Fed. of Independent Businesses, CA Manufacturers Assn., local chambers of commerce and taxpayer organizations, L.A. Times Prop. 218 - Voter Approval for Local Govt. Taxes. Limitations on Fees, Assessments & Charges: Requires majority votes to approve any increases in general taxes. Limits local governments' use of fees, assessments & taxes. Stipulates that fees & assessments can only be used for specified purposes but not for general public projects or services such as public safety or libraries. Supporters (Partial List): Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn., CA Republican Party, CA Chamber of Commerce, CA Farm Bureau Opponents (Partial List): L.A. Board of Supervisors, CA Library Assn., League of Women Voters, Sierra Club, American Jewish Congress, public employee & teachers unions, fire/police chiefs assn., L.A. Times Prepared by the Public Policy & Communications Department. For further info, please call (213) 860-7350.