Teamster member Noah Teegarden holds up a sign against Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ballot measures during a get-out-the-vote drive at the local teamsters hall in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, Nov. 7, 2005.

The ASSociated Press has Voters Reject Schwarzenegger Initiatives.

In a stinging rebuke from voters who elected him two years ago, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s efforts to reshape state government were rejected during a special election that darkened his prospects for a second term.

The Republican governor and former Hollywood actor, who likes to say he can sell anything, on Tuesday saw all four of his signature ballot proposals rejected.

The election pitted the once-dominant Republican governor against two of California’s powerhouse political forces — public employee unions and Democrats who control the Legislature.

The unions spent millions of dollars to beat Schwarzenegger’s propositions to limit the use of their member dues for political purposes, cap state spending, redraw legislative districts and restrict public school teacher tenure.

It was a sobering evening for a man once considered among the most popular politicians in America. The contest represented the biggest test yet of a faltering Schwarzenegger’s leadership.

Voters overwhelmingly defeated Proposition 76, the governor’s centerpiece proposal to slow the growth of state spending. Proposition 77, which would have redrawn legislative and congressional districts, was knocked down by a similar margin.

Failing by slimmer spreads were Proposition 74, a plan to make teachers work longer to achieve tenure, and Proposition 73, which would have restricted political spending by public employee unions.

Poll after poll showed it was an election that Californians didn’t want, with a total lineup of eight initiatives that didn’t connect with every day issues such as gas prices, housing costs and the war in
Iraq.

Schwarzenegger’s conflict with the unions made him a target for teachers, nurses and firefighters. Their television advertising blitz helped push his popularity ratings to record lows.

Union leaders and Democrats who opposed the governor chanted “sweep, sweep” at their Sacramento victory party. “I’m very grateful to Arnold Schwarzenegger for really working people up,” said Deborah Burger, president of the California Nurses Association.

Well, the voters of California have spoken loud and clear.

STATUS QUO!

There will be many analyses of the special election campaign. And Flap will write and comment on them over the weeks ahead.

But, for sure the unmistaken message from California was the COMPLETE rejection of Schwarzenegger’s reform agenda.

Others may spin this defeat for the Governator and the California Recovery Team, but Schwarzenegger was BEATEN and TERMINATED.

If Flap was Arnold, after a nice relaxing trade mission to China, I would start entertaining movie deals.

More later…….

Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Recovery Team, California Special Election, Bear Flag League, Proposition 74, Proposition 75, Proposition 76, Proposition 77, Proposition 73, Proposition 78, Proposition 79, Proposition 80

Cross-posted to the Bear Flag League Special Election Page

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger addresses invited guests at an election party in Beverly Hills. Official returns showed that California voters roundly rejected four crucial referendum measures on which Schwarzenegger had staked his political reputation.

California Special Election Results with 99.5% of the precincts resporting:

State Ballot Measures
99.5% ( 17577 of 17657 ) precincts reporting as of Nov 9, 2005 at 3:57 am

Statewide Returns	County Returns | County Status

   Propositions                      Yes Votes   Pct.   No Votes   Pct.

  73 N    Minor's Pregnancy          3,117,521  47.5   3,445,617  52.5  Map 

  74 N    Teacher Tenure             2,975,578  44.9   3,641,434  55.1  Map 

  75 N    Public Union Dues          3,081,355  46.6   3,529,245  53.4  Map 

  76 N    Spending/Funding           2,512,920  38.0   4,091,907  62.0  Map 

  77 N    Redistricting              2,663,629  40.5   3,897,648  59.5  Map 

  78 N    Rx Drug Discounts          2,706,996  41.5   3,802,493  58.5  Map 

  79 N    Rx Drug Rebates            2,510,499  38.9   3,932,332  61.1  Map 

  80 N    Electric Regulation        2,177,432  34.3   4,162,788  65.7  Map 

Stay Tuned for analysis……..

And the beginning of California Election 2006………

Update #3 10:02 PM

Only Prop 75 passing but majority of counties reporting are from Northern California and 99% of San Francisco County.

Little LA, Orange or San Diego Counties have reported majority of their precincts

Update #2 8:52 PM

Will Arnold go 3-2 with 73, 74 and 75 passing?

Update #1

Watch real time election results with Flap here.

From the Official Voter Information Guide:

PROPOSITION 73

WAITING PERIOD AND PARENTAL NOTIFICATION BEFORE TERMINATION OF MINOR’S PREGNANCY. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

SUMMARY

Amends California Constitution, defining and prohibiting abortion for unemancipated minor until 48 hours after physician notifies minor’s parent/guardian, except in medical emergency or with parental waiver. Mandates reporting requirements. Authorizes monetary damages against physicians for violation. Fiscal Impact: Potential unknown net state costs of several million dollars annually for health and social services programs, the courts, and state administration combined.

FLAP RECOMMENDS A YES VOTE

PROPOSITION 74

PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS. WAITING PERIOD FOR PERMANENT STATUS. DISMISSAL. INITIATIVE STATUTE.

SUMMARY

Increases probationary period for public school teachers from two to five years. Modifies the process by which school boards can dismiss a teaching employee who receives two consecutive unsatisfactory performance evaluations. Fiscal Impact: Unknown net effect on school districts’ costs for teacher compensation, performance evaluations, and other activities. Impact would vary significantly by district and depend largely on future district personnel actions.

FLAP RECOMMENDS A YES VOTE

PROPOSITION 75

PUBLIC EMPLOYEE UNION DUES. RESTRICTIONS ON POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS. EMPLOYEE CONSENT REQUIREMENT. INITIATIVE STATUTE.

SUMMARY

Prohibits using public employee union dues for political contributions without individual employees’ prior consent. Excludes contributions benefitting charities or employees. Requires unions to maintain and, upon request, report member political contributions to Fair Political Practices Commission. Fiscal Impact: Probably minor state and local government implementation costs, potentially offset in part by revenues from fines and/or fees.

FLAP RECOMMENDS A YES VOTE

PROPOSITION 76

STATE SPENDING AND SCHOOL FUNDING LIMITS. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

SUMMARY

Limits state spending to prior year’s level plus three previous years’ average revenue growth. Changes minimum school funding requirements (Proposition 98). Permits Governor, under specified circumstances, to reduce budget appropriations of Governor’s choosing. Fiscal Impact: State spending likely reduced relative to current law, due to additional spending limit and new powers granted to Governor. Reductions could apply to schools and shift costs to other local governments.

FLAP RECOMMENDS A YES VOTE

PROPOSITION 77

REDISTRICTING. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

SUMMARY

Amends state Constitution’s process for redistricting California’s Senate, Assembly, Congressional and Board of Equalization districts. Requires three-member panel of retired judges selected by legislative leaders. Fiscal Impact: One-time state redistricting costs totaling no more than $1.5 million and county costs in the range of $1 million. Potential reduction in future costs, but net impact would depend on decisions by voters.

FLAP RECOMMENDS A YES VOTE

PROPOSITION 78

DISCOUNTS ON PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. INITIATIVE STATUTE.

SUMMARY

Establishes discount prescription drug program for certain low- and moderate-income Californians. Authorizes Department of Health Services to contract with participating pharmacies for discounts and with participating drug manufacturers for rebates. Fiscal Impact: State costs for administration and outreach in the millions to low tens of millions of dollars annually. State costs for advance funding for rebates. Unknown potentially significant savings for state and county health programs.

FLAP RECOMMENDS A NO VOTE

PROPOSITION 79

PRESCRIPTION DRUG DISCOUNTS. STATE-NEGOTIATED REBATES. INITIATIVE STATUTE.

SUMMARY

Provides drug discounts to Californians with qualifying incomes. Funded by state-negotiated drug manufacturer rebates. Prohibits Medi-Cal contracts with manufacturers not providing Medicaid best price. Fiscal Impact: State costs for administration and outreach in low tens of millions of dollars annually. State costs for advance funding for rebates. Unknown potentially significant: (1) net costs or savings for Medi-Cal and (2) savings for state and county health programs.

FLAP RECOMMENDS A NO VOTE

PROPOSITION 80

ELECTRIC SERVICE PROVIDERS. REGULATION. INITIATIVE STATUTE.

SUMMARY

Subjects electric service providers to regulation by California Public Utilities Commission. Restricts electricity customers’ ability to switch from private utilities to other providers. Requires all retail electric sellers to increase renewable energy resource procurement by 2010. Fiscal Impact: Potential annual administrative costs ranging from negligible to $4 million, paid by fees. Unknown net impact on state and local costs and revenues from uncertain impact on electricity rates.

FLAP RECOMMENDS A NO VOTE

Well, there you have it!

Now, go and vote.

Flap knows you will be glad you did.

For more Voter guides head over to XRLQ’s place.

Once again, here are links to the blogger election guides of which I’ve been made aware:

1. Stephen Bainbridge (update here)
2. BoiFromTroi (73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 80)
3. Tammy Bruce
4. California Conservative (see also)
5. Cobb
6. Matthew Hoy
7. K.G. at California Mafia
8. Lonewacko
9. Hugo Schwyzer
10. Citizen Smash
11. Michael Williams
12. Yami Monkey
13. Xrlq

BFL Special Election blog

Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Recovery Team, California Special Election, Bear Flag League, Proposition 74, Proposition 75, Proposition 76, Proposition 77, Proposition 73, Proposition 78, Proposition 79, Proposition 80

Cross-posted to the Bear Flag League Special Election Page

The Los Angeles Times has Voters Support Parental Notice

California voters narrowly favor an initiative on Tuesday’s ballot to bar abortions for minors unless parents are notified….

Views are more set, however, on Proposition 73, the abortion measure, which 51% of likely voters support and 39% oppose. It would prohibit abortions for those younger than 18 until 48 hours after a doctor notified a parent or guardian. There would be some exceptions, including medical emergencies or a parental waiver of the notification rule.

Men tend to support parental notification more than women do, the poll found. Nearly six in 10 men back Proposition 73, but women are split almost evenly.

The measure is also favored by nearly two-thirds of those who attend religious services at least once a month, underscoring the potential value of the Republican Party’s promotion of the measure among evangelicals and other conservative Christians. The proposal is most popular among Republicans, conservatives and the elderly.

“A parent should be involved with a minor’s decision on that,” poll respondent Paula Maine, 46, a conservative Republican pharmaceutical saleswoman who lives in Diamond Bar, said in a follow-up interview.

The measure is least popular among Democrats and liberals, but their opposition is slightly outweighed by more intense support for the measure among Republicans and conservatives.

Proposition 73, the Parents Right To Know Initiative website.

The Official Title and Summary.

A history of polling from Real Clear Politics is here.

Flap Says VOTE YES!

Will Proposition 73 galvanize the Christian RIGHT for Schwarzenegger?

Stay Tuned……

Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Special Election, Los Angeles Times, Proposition 73

Cross-posted to the Bear Flag League Special Election Page

On July 30, 2004, Diana Lopez received a call from her daughter’s middle school, informing her that her 13-year-daughter hadbeen taken to the hospital because she was bleeding. By the time Diana found out where her daughter had actually been taken, a Planned Parenthood abortion center, her young daughter was already undergoing an abortion — orchestrated by her boyfriend’s mother and Planned Parenthood staff. Diana had not known that her daughter was pregnant or contemplating an abortion. Had Diana known of her daughter’s pregnancy, she would have encouraged and assisted her to have her baby rather than undergo a secret abortion.

Flap supports Proposition 73, the Parents Right To Know initiative. and urges its passage at the California Special Election, November 8th.

From Real Clear Politics:

Proposition 73: Parental Notification

• Termination of Minor’s Pregnancy. Waiting Period and Parental Notification. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.

Summary: Amends California Constitution to bar abortion on unemancipated minor until 48 hours after physician notifies minor’s parent/legal guardian, except in medical emergency or with parental waiver. Permits judicial waiver of notice based on clear and convincing evidence of minor’s maturity or minor’s best interests. Physician must report abortions performed on minors and State shall compile statistics. Authorizes monetary damages for violation. Minor must consent to abortion unless mentally incapable or in medical emergency. Permits judicial relief if minor’s consent to abortion is coerced.

Latest polling results and a poll summary is here.

Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Special Election, Capitol Research Institute, Proposition 73

Cross-posted to the Bear Flag League Special Election Page