California Special Election - How Will You Vote On Propositions?

[jyl]

I've finally gotten around to studying these propositions. I thought we Californians might have a thread where we succinctly list how we're inclined on the propositions, and why. Kind of a poll. I know Wayne had started a thread on the propositions but it's getting long and convoluted.

Here's my list:

Prop 73 - NO
Personal choice

Prop 74 - YES
Teachers should be treated fairly but existing protections seem excessive: tenure after just 2 years, 12-step process to terminate, right of appeal to superior and appellate court, etc.

Prop 75 - NO
No reason to put greater restriction on public employee unions' political use of members' money than on private employee unions and corporations.

Prop 76 - Edit: NO after leaning YES
Generally like concept of restraining spending in boom times and buidling reserves for bust times. Proposition is way complicated, and I'm dubious about the modifications to Prop 98 (education funding). Edit: decided this Prop is just too complicated, I can't be sure there's not an ulterior motive or a non-obvious effect.

Prop 77 - YES
Gerry-mandering: bad. Competitive elections: good. Incumbents losing often: good.

Prop 78 - NO
No point to it, toothless prop sponsored by drug companies to defeat Prop 79.

Prop 79 - Edit: NO after leaning YES
Like giving the state more levers to reduce prescription drug costs, like linking to Medi-Cal. Dubious about prohibition against "unconscionable profits" by drug companies, seems too vague - this is keeping me "leaning" not "decided" YES. Edit: I read actual language of statute, would permit drug companies to be sued for making "unjust" or "unreasonable" profits, these terms are nowhere defined, I decided that's at odds with my economic views.

Prop 80 - NO
The details of energy policy seem too complicated to decide by proposition. Should renewables be 20% or 10% of all energy sources, and is it feasible by 2010 or 2015 - how the heck do I know? Also, seems designed to favor big utilities (PG&E etc) and eliminate alternative energy providers.

[Hugh R]

73 no
74-77 yes
78 & 79 no
80 no