Prop. 82 was spawned by Reiner, who in 1998 led the successful tobacco tax initiative known as Proposition 10, which provides about $550 million a year in “First Five” funding for early childhood programs.

San Francisco Chronicle: Measure to tax rich for preschool for all heading for defeat

A pitch for universal preschool that had split parents, business interests and members of political parties appeared headed for defeat Tuesday night after a hard-fought campaign.

Proposition 82 would have placed California in the forefront of a growing national movement to provide publicly supported preschool.

Supporters of the initiative called it the best fix for a struggling K-12 system by giving all 4-year-olds the basic skills needed to succeed in school. But opponents warned it could merely expand a failed state education bureaucracy and said voters needed to read the fine print of an initiative with natural appeal.

With 44 percent of votes counted statewide, the measure was losing by a margin of 59 percent to 41 percent.

Prop. 82 champion Rob Reiner sounded defeated as he addressed cheering supporters at a Los Angeles hotel Tuesday night.

“Right now, it doesn’t look good, but it doesn’t matter,” the Hollywood director said. “Win or lose, we have raised the profile of the importance of early childhood education, and it will never go away.”

Reiner called on opponents who said they supported the idea of publicly supported preschool — just not the proposition’s details — to help craft an alternative.

Opponents were optimistic.

“We’re feeling pretty confident the results will hold up,” said Kathy Fairbanks, a spokeswoman for the No on 82 campaign. “Voters rejected a tax increase to create a $2.4 billion preschool bureaucracy.”

The measure would have levied an additional 1.7 percent tax on the incomes of couples who make more than $800,000 and individuals who make more than $400,000, starting Jan. 1, 2007. Preschools could apply to begin using the funding in 2010.

An estimated 62 to 65 percent of California 4-year-olds now attend some form of preschool, but the proposition’s backers said many of those programs are of low quality and would be replaced by better schools with more highly trained teachers.

Reiner and his LEFT Hollywood friends lost big time with this tax the rich universal preschool scheme.

Everyone knows that preschool is good for children.

And everyone knows that California public schools are some of the USA’s worst. And Reiner wanted to create another under-performing school bureaucracy.

California voters said NO and in a big way.

The Initiative:

PROPOSITION 82

OFFICIAL TITLE AND SUMMARY

Prepared by the Attorney General

Preschool Education. Tax on Incomes Over $400,000 for Individuals; $800,000 for Couples. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.

• Establishes a right to voluntary preschool for all four-year old children.
• Funded by a 1.7% tax on individual incomes above $400,000; $800,000 for couples.
• Administered by the state Superintendent of Public Instruction and county school superintendents.
• Directs counties to prepare reports on curricula, outreach, facilities, childcare coordination,
budgeting, teacher recruitment and pay.
• Limits administrative expenses; requires program audits.
• Requires state Superintendent to develop a preschool teaching credential with financial aid
for credential students.
• Excludes revenue from appropriation limits, Proposition 98 calculations.

Summary of Legislative Analyst’s Estimate of Net State and Local Government Fiscal Impact:

• Increased state revenues of about $2.1 billion in 2007–08, growing annually with the economy
to around $2.6 billion in 2010–11, when the preschool program would be open to all 4-year olds in the state.
• Revenues would be used solely for new state preschool program and would be spent to run
the program, pay for facilities, train teachers, and provide an operating reserve

The results:

Yes: 1,577,048 – 39.1 %

No: 2,453,578 – 60.9 %

The Hollywood Left and Rob Reiner were repudiated at the polls.

Rob Reiner on the stump for Proposition 82

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Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: Rob Reiner Resigns – FINALLY

Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: This is Arnold Schwarzenegger’s MESS Now

Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: Rob Reiner = “A Friend”
Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: Meathead Rob Reiner Won’t RUN

Rob Reiner Watch: Candidate for California Governor?

Rob Reiner Watch: Tax the Rich for Pre-School

Brian Bilbray, Republican candidate in the 50th congressional district, center, addresses supporters as his daughter Briana Bilbray, left, son Patrick Bilbray, center left, and his wife his wife Karen Bilbray, right, look on at an election night party held at the Westgate Hotel in San Diego Tuesday, June 6, 2006.

ASSociated Press: Former GOP Rep. wins Calif. House race

A former Republican congressman narrowly beat his Democratic rival early Wednesday for the House seat once held by jailed Randy “Duke” Cunningham, a race closely watched as a possible early barometer of next fall’s vote.

Republican Brian Bilbray emerged victorious after a costly and contentious special election race against Democrat Francine Busby, a local school board member.

With 90 percent of precincts reporting, Bilbray had 56,130 votes, or 50 percent. Busby trailed with 51,292 votes, or 45 percent. “I think that we’re going back to Washington,” Bilbray told cheering supporters.

The race — one of dozens of contests Tuesday in eight states — was viewed by Democrats as an opportunity to capture a solidly Republican district and build momentum on their hopes to capture control of the House.

If this election is an example or a portent for November 2006, the GOP will handily retain control of the House in November.

However, the margin of victory for Bilbray was 5-6 points lower than what President Bush carried the district in 2004. So, there is work for the GOP.

But, the main thrust of Democrat Party Mo has been STALLED……

The Democrat Pary “Culture of Corrupion” is DEAD.

Speaker Hastert’s statement is here:

House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert made the following statement upon hearing that Brian Bilbray won California’s 50th Congressional seat:

“I want to congratulate Brian Bilbray on his victory in a hard fought race where voters clearly sided with local issues of protecting the homeland, growing the economy and securing the borders over a national Democratic agenda of higher taxes and border insecurity. I look forward to working with Brian on these issues in the House of Representatives.”

Watch immigration reform (illegal aliens) as a MAJOR issue for the GOP in the Fall. Bilbray ran on “No Amnesty” and heavily criticized the Senate bill with the appropach favored by President Bush.

Stay tuned……

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California Primary Election 2006 Watch: CA – 50 GOP Brian Bilbray Leads

Election 2006 Watch: Francine Busby in California 50 – “You Don’t Need Papers for Voting”

Technorati Tags: FrancineBusby, BrianBilbray

Brian Bilbray, Republican candidate in the 50th congressional district, left, talks with a supporter at an election night party in San Diego, Tuesday, June 6, 2006.

ASSociated Press: Ex-GOP congressman ahead in Calif. race

A former Republican congressman led in early results Tuesday in a closely watched House race that was being seen as a barometer of voter attitudes ahead of the midterm elections.

Former Rep. Brian Bilbray was leading Democrat Francine Busby in the solidly Republican San Diego-area district about 30 miles north of the Mexican border. The immigration debate and a GOP corruption scandal dominated the campaign for the House seat held by Randy “Duke” Cunningham before he went to prison for bribery.

Tuesday’s victor will serve the remaining seven months of Cunningham’s term.

With 11 percent of precincts reporting in absentee voting, Bilbray had 20,448 votes, or 51 percent, compared with 17,329 votes, or 43 percent, for Busby.

Busby, a local school board member who ran against Cunningham in 2004, focused her campaign on public dissatisfaction with the Bush administration and the GOP-led Congress. She assailed Bilbray for working as a lobbyist in Washington and routinely referred to him as “lobbyist Bilbray.”

Democrats spent nearly $2 million on the high-stakes contest, and the GOP spent more than $4 million. President Bush and first lady Laura Bush recorded automated telephone messages for Bilbray. A mass e-mailing from Sen. John Kerry, the party’s 2004 presidential candidate, was sent last week to more than 100,000 supporters, urging them to help get out the vote. Al Gore also recorded a phone message telling Democrats to go to the polls.

It looks like the GOP and Brian Bilbray have held the seat.

The results can be viewed throughout the night and morning here.

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Election 2006 Watch: Francine Busby in California 50 – “You Don’t Need Papers for Voting”

Technorati Tags: FrancineBusby, BrianBilbray