California Special Election: Prop. 1A explained

The state special election on May 19 will ask voters to decide on five propositions aimed at shoring up California's finances and one proposition to freeze state salaries during years with deficits. We asked staff writer Evan Halper to concisely explain each measure.

What Proposition 1A would do: This measure would limit the growth of government spending.

Quick take: The proposition would require lawmakers and the governor to increase the state's rainy-day reserves during boom times to 12.5% of the general fund (the current amount is 5%). New restrictions on tapping the reserves would be imposed to keep money on hand for emergencies, such as natural disasters, or for years when revenue is down. The measure would let the governor cut up to 7% from many types of state operations and cost-of-living adjustments. The measure also would trigger an extension of billions of dollars in recent increases in sales, income and vehicle taxes for up to two additional years.

-- Evan Halper

Full text: Proposition 1A

Recent coverage: Election Central

Links: May 19 Voter Guide | Find your polling place  | How the props are expected to do | Times endorsements

Discuss: Should voters limit how much government spending can grow each year?

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Comments

[Clay Bradfield]

Prop 1A also specifies how the Governor must calculate the projected 'resources' for the future budget cycle. If it is implemented, Arnold would constitutionally mandated to claim California will have an increase in 'resources' for the coming year. That's absolute hogwash. No responsible business or government in this country can use the proposed mechanism and survive.

[Whatever]

I vote against all propositions. It is time our elected officials do their job and work on a budget. They should make priorities and divide the tax money, like every family works with the money it has. No excuse accepted and I am not going to do their job for them. I will vote yes to freeze salaries though, too just and tempting!

[allan]

why don't you mention in the quick take that it extends the tax increases for 2 years.i am outraged at the union commercials that do not mention this fact.if you are going to report the news please make sure you include all the facts in your lead.
this state legilature needs to come to terms with the fact people and business can no longer affford additional taxes or fees.they must cut spending and reverse the direction the state is going .i am an independent voter and have voted members of both parties.the one thing i always look for when i choose a candidiate is are they willing to cut and not tax.it is becoming increasingly difficult to find an individual running for office with common sense.

[you gotta be kidding me]

What??? There's now a 5% rainy day fund? When I read the measure a couple of days ago and saw that, I was stunned. That's NEVER figured into Cal. budgets. This convinces me that this is all smoke and mirrors. Shame on the Legislature for failing to do its job or, barring that, giving the voters a REAL choice. I'm voting yes on 1F and very likely will vote no on the others.

[Roman A]

If any person manages their house like our politicians they would be BROKE, Bankrupt, Chapter 7, call it what you will. However the State has a sense of entitlement that gives them the believe that they can simply raise taxes, and put the burden on its people. This is like Mommy going on a spending spree, and then asking her children to pay for her stupid spending habits. NO on Prop 1a-1f. The State Assembly got into this mess by promising the unions the BEST benefits, but forgets how they were going to pay these overpaid Union Members. We need to send a REAL Strong message.

[ay]

Yes there should be a raining day fund and a spending cap. California State Legislature has demonstrated that they have absolutely no fiscal control whatsoever. They'll spend whatever money they have because the Unions and special interests will make sure of that. A Constitutional limit on what they can and cannot spend is the only way to put the spending back in line. Paying extra taxes for 2 years is worth it, even if they never build up the raining day fund to the 12.5%. The important thing is the spending cap.

[Robyn]

Prop 1A is a scam! It is a tax increase and everyone should vote no! Everyone should vote no on all the props! They are wasting our money and the only way to fix the budget is to stop spending.

Don't be fooled. They will never allow the fire stations to be closed (Arnold's threat). This threat proves that they are afraid that they won't get to keep more of OUR money.

They have to consider public safety so they would never lay off fireman!.

[mmmkit]

Another special election for the constituents to decide a budget? Why do we have representatives in Sacramento again? Gray Davis should have remained in office.

[John]

I already voted NO on Props 1A-F. They are shams and extend taxes 2 years. Hopefully they will fail and the boneheads in Sacramento will have to cut spending...or the state can go bankrupt, eliminate the rich union contracts and start over.
ENOUGH SPENDNG YOU DOPES!

[Figgins]

Haste Makes Waste. These propositions are ill-conceived, were passed under duress, and likely authored by the Special Interests that will benefit the most from passage.

The only way this Special Election could turn into a positive for California, is to recall each and every elected state official. They have all done a stupendously poor job.

[Karen]

So let's get this straight, they want to build up a "rainy day" fund when it's raining cats and dogs outside? Vote NO on all the measures but the last one.1F. The state worker's pensions are guaranteed for life, and we're paying for it. And if they die, those guaranteed pensions go to their family members. Tell you what people, this is exactly what's sinking Ford and Chrysler, and it's what is gonna sink us as well. Force these law makers of ours to address and fix the problems, don't let them look the other way and TAX US to death to fix it all!

[Schimpff]

I'm voting for the spending cap. It limits the ability of the union-dominated legislature to tax and spend. The unions are absolutely furious about it. Let's pass it!

[Will]

I am voting against all the propositions as they are a sham and I hope voters really are reading between the lines on all these tax hikes. Secondly, there are no real cuts in the state budget despite the rhetoric. All the budgets need to be reduced. What have we received as a resident with all the excess spending? Zippo! The unions must also shoulder their share of blame as they have made few cuts despite budget shortfalls and declining tax bases. This state is anti-business and needs a major shakeup on all levels.

[ALNJERRY]

The only reason these Propositions are on the ballot is because Sacramento cannot get enough votes to pass them up there. "Put them on a special election ballot, where only about 10% of the voters will vote. We stand a better chance of passing them." Why can't they get them passed in Sacramento? because they are bad propositions and the legislators are trying an end run around the elected representatives??? Makes you want to go ...huuuum?? When in doubt, vote NO. We can always afford another million dollers for another special election.

[not surprised]

most these props probably wont pass. all because Californians are afraid of charitable program cuts and tax hikes but somehow want this deficit to go away. then we blame the legislators and governor for doing a crappy job. hence why prop 1f will pass.

[JAR]

I have already voted NO to all 6 props.
No on 1A because it isn't really a spending cap. A real spending cap would be based on population growth and cost of living. If the population shrank by 2% and the cost of living went up 2% there would be zero growth on the next budget. Prop 1A has a loophole that would allow increased spending if the legislature increased taxes. Besides if 1A is passed then all the nasty tax increases would be extended for 2 additional years.
It's time to let the state go bankrupt and start over again.

[shocked-I-tell-you-shocked]

Front page LA Times story today:

The governor would slash $3 billion from schools, cut 5,000 workers and sell state property, EVEN IF VOTERS APPROVE BALLOT MEASURES NEXT WEEK.

Is that the cherry on top or what?

When we elected the Terminator little did we know this clown would terminate Ca-LI-fornia. Vote NO on all props May 19 and show the slime in the governor's office and state legislature we're not the fools they take us for.

[Fred Santisteban]

It is time for all the fat to be cut, vote no on all the props except for 1F.

Recall all of the legislators.

Layoff state workers; stop rehiring state workers that have retired, cut all overtime, cut the working week to 4 days, make state workers pay what the private sector pays for healthcare.

No more gravy jobs

[Steve]

Cut the budget! Cut the budget! Cut the budget!

[john McManamy]

Sacramento politicos are out for themselves. After being termed out they create a board of something, meet a few times a year and get paid $120,000. Are they detached or what. Just look at the extensive State of California list of agencies, commissions and boards. Cut, Cut, and Cut.

[mw]

Here's the "real" special election explained:

Proposition 1A-VOTE NO
This is a 2 year tax increase!

Proposition 1B-VOTE NO
“Payoff” to Teachers Union

Proposition 1C-VOTE NO
No more borrowing schemes!

Proposition 1D-VOTE NO
This feeds the spending beast

Proposition 1E-VOTE NO
This feeds the spending beast too

Proposition 1F-VOTE NO
Don’t “reward” Senator Abel Maldonado—The last vote to raise your taxes

It's that easy - just vote NO NO NO NO NO...NO!

[iwillbecauseiam]

dump state workers and their expense benefit plans!

[Alex dewalt]

NO on 1A, B, & C.
But YES on D, E,& F.

It takes money from special interest programs for only two years to help pay for other things.

These are even supported by the people who wrote the original laws.

Why be forced to spend money when these will allow flexibility on spending for two years?
They don't add taxes, and they STOP raises for greedy politicians if we have a deficit!

Read it for yourself YES on D E & F!

No on A,B, & C. Simple enough.

[Curt Ewald]

It looks like all the anti-tax, anti-govt, anti-politician types are gonna get their way in this election. So we'll finally get to experience the full impact of Prop 13 and our dysfunctional budgeting system. Like the national economic meltdown, it seems we've got to have a breakdown before we can have a breakthrough. Let's see how much they really like it when the prisons empty out, the schools deteriorate further, and all the other govt services we take for granted aren't possible anymore.

[Decision Desk]

DON'T BE DECEIVED by statements that Proposition 1A is a "SPENDING LIMIT" initiative. Sacramento politicians made a backroom "deal" to resolve the budget process with a tax increase that will cost the typical California family over $1,100. Now they are offering Proposition 1A as another “deal” they hope will fool voters. To learn more about the 1A Proposition check it out here. http://pfx.me/BF

[Matthew]

Quit blaming Arnold. The Democrats have controlled the state for years. The Unions have controlled the Democrats. Remember the previous group of propositions Arnie tried to get through? The Unions spent over 120 million calling Arnie "mean". You idiots believed the unions. Now, you're hollering to cut the unions. Which is it? You keep voting for ANYBODY with a "D" after their name, then you complain when they can't vote no on any entitlement program, or they can't say no to any Union. You want to see the problem with this state? Go look in a mirror.

[adeli d.]

If Prop 1A and 1B don't pass all Academic Preparation Programs will disappear, with many people across the state in Institiutions of Higher Learning Loosing their jobs. What are Academic Preparation Programs? They are Outreach programs coordinated by the Public universities and College Systems to encourage Kids to go to college. They are educational programs that bring the Kids to see the college along with afterschool and weekend programs to help students realize that they CAN make it to college!!

[way]

Lots of pent-up anger on the blog.
Californians who spent this money?
Who benefited by these expenditures ?
Californians owes this debt and more. Built up over years of generational buy now pay later plans Californians seam too love.
Now that liens are being called Californians don't want too pay interest or principal. Poor guys with billions every month put away in personal saving and retirement investments. Yet can't find two buffalo heads too rub together.
I know ! we can have a bake sale cupcakes -one thousand dollars each, plus tax.
Pay the piper Cal. or its Ala Carte from here-on.

[jojo]

time to take the charge card away from the "kids" in the legislature....

Vote NO tomorrow on all the props except for 1f.
Maybe they will think twice before devoting any more "resources" to illegal immigrants.

[Jesse]

Get real, all this mumbo jumbo yes/no vote...
It's all about the divide and conquer. Divide public opinion and conquer them all, by doing what is best for Cal. Politicos......

[The Piperl]

Guess who deserves a big part of the blame?
1) Voters who gave more power to corporate lobbyists than legislators. Lobbyists don't have term limits. They stay in place and influence the rookie legislators with their donations and experience.
2) Anti-revenue extremists who are playing a game with the people of California.
3) Stupid voter initiative movements mandating spending even when the general fund is empty.
4) Arnold, who never fullfilled a single promise.

[Sean K]

iwillbecauseiam says: "dump state workers and their expensive benefit plans." Wow. What a genius. He doesn't even state WHICH state workers. Highway Patrol? Corrections officers? State University teachers? Who are you even talking about? All of them? Maybe you didn't know it, but the state government is one of the only places to find employment that offers a living wage, doesn't discriminate on the basis of sex, race and religion, and offers those awful expensive benefits you hate so much so that the rest of the civilized world considers a basic right. The only kind of person who would be against benefits are rich people who've never worked a day in their lives or people so dumb they don't even know they might need medical care one day.

[no_on_all]

For those of you thinking 1A is a spending cap, please read the whole prop again. It is a spending cap that is tied to the taxes. Problem is, there is no tax cap, therefore, all these clowns in sacramento are gonna do is increase the taxes and the spending cap increases also. Call it a dynamic spending cap for lack of a better term. We are being bamboozled by these politicians. Oh and the rainy day fund is not exactly what it is... 9 billion of that fund is already allocated to the TEACHERS (not the kids as they always try to make it appear in the ads). So, what rainy day fund again????

[fedup]

Thats what you get for electing another stupid actor.

Duh.

[K2]

Dear L.A. Times,

Thanks for posting that stupid, sexist "Mommy spending spree" comment on the front page of your lousy paper all day long.

[Rod Crain]

This is another scam to steal from hard working people. While the lazy, worthless bums on welfare get their checks every 1st and 15th. STOP paying these women food stamps, medi-cal, section 8, and every other welfare program invented by liberals. As for me, as soon as the housing market recovers, I am moving out of this state!

[Teaparty Tom]

You could fire 90% of the people that work for the government and it would have no impact on anything.

[Figgins]

It seems certain that the electorate has finally woken up from the binge spending, and is going to slap down the sycophants in Sacramento. If you're an elected official, I think you better up-date your resume.

We're on the brink of winning the 1st battle for economic sanity in California. Next step will be to fashion a reasonable and just budget. Then we throw the bums out.

Can a bankruptcy court void some of the idiotic propositions that have been passed over the last 10-15 years? Probably not, but just hoping.

[ImnotsayinImjustsayin]

Hmm, Toady to Special Interests is probably not a good job title to put down. Just sayin'...

[Common Citizen]

For those who think state workers should be further furloughed and agree to take less in benefits, here's an idea: take a paycut yourselves, then we'll talk! We (state workers) too feel the financial squeeze given the condition of the state's economy. State workers have long been paid less than those in the private sector; benefits are the draw for those considering state employment, not the salaries. Distaste for the unions should not unfairly spill onto those they represent.; they are the only protection we have against our Governor and his outrageous fiscal policies.

[Chris Morales]

VOTE NO ON PROPOSITION 1a, A SPENDING CAP WHICH WILL LIMIT US ALL TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF REVENUE WHICH WE GET & SINCE CALIFORNIA IS IN SUCH A BUDGET CRISIS, EVEN WHEN WE GET BACK ON OUR FEET THIS SPENDING CAP WILL ALWAYS BE THERE AND WE WILL ALL NEVER BE FULLY FUNDED RESULTING IN CUTS EVERY SINGLE YEAR. READ THE FINE PRINT, EVEN THE BALLOT WHERE THE PROPOSITION IS LIKE 6 PAGES LONG TO MAKE IT CONFUSING SO PEOPLE WILL ONLY GO OFF OF THOSE COMMERCIALS. VOTE NO ON PROP 1A

-CHRIS MORALES
-STUDENTS FOR QUALITY EDUCATION DOMINGUEZ HILLS CHAPTER
MYSPACE.COM/STUDENTSQUALITYEDUCATION

[Janelle Munoz]

I would love nothing more than to fully understand this enormous political/fiscal mess. But unfortunately, I do not. I don't know whether to support the props or side with the angry democrats that seem to be confident that the props are just made to devastate vital social programs. What I do know however is that I am only 20 years old; a college student who is trying to get her life rolling but finds that very hard to do. Both of my parents, who I live with, are both state workers and they do indeed work very hard. My dad-a cal-trans worker-comes home everyday (except furlough fridays) with scratches up and down his arms from removing trees and weeds. he is covered in dirt and sweat-stained clothes and the funny thing about it is he never resents it. He is proud of his hard day's work and loves it to death. His sense of achievement would be lost if his job was taken from him and that would break my heart to see that happen. As for my mother, she is a courtroom assistant and has worked so long to get where she is at now. She has expressed to me that taking heat from judges and being constantly expected to have her work perfect makes her job tough but like my father, she is extremely grateful to have it as well. Along with having good-paying jobs come taxes which they pay without much complaint. But I must vent that it is frustrating that they can't give anything towards my college education and at the same time not get any kind of financial aid. My parents actually can't really give me anything at all. Even though they give me a couch to sleep on, I have been paying for my own things with what little money I have by going from job to job. All I really want is to be guaranteed a promising future with all this dedication I have put in school. I have always adored the education system in this country- it has made me the driven citizen I am today but what is painful is that all three younger siblings that I live with are failing miserably in every subject! Can someone tell me please: will this continue to an even worse degree with the passing of the props or will cutting spending on education not even make a difference because it is failing anyway? My mind is open to enlightenment and persuasion! It would make me very happy to see California get back on its feet again and be the state that all the others envy. But again, I must be lectured further and have my questions answered: are taxes being raised enough on the over-paid in proportion to the middle-class? It is all just one big brain cramp :(

[Joe]

I'm sending a message to Arnold that says "I have no confidence in your ability to govern". Arnold has been the most incompetent governor ever elected. I sure am going to vote no on his power grab and I can't wait to sign that recall petition to force him out of office.

[Matt]

Perhaps at last Californians are coming to realise that if you want all these liberal heart warming initiatives and propositions then you have to pay for them, sooner or later.

[scteacher]

Let's see.....I am almost certain that the same wackos that put all this power in Arnold's hands are the same exact ones that are screaming "NO" right now. Be rational....not idealogical. Blanket beliefs are nothing but destructive. People.....consider our situation NOW.....consider the reasons why we are in this situation in the first place. It is time empower yourself and believe in the opportunity to fix this broken system. Don't just whine and complain...DO SOMETHING!!

P.S. Consider the changes you will vote no for today when your children are doing poorly in school because of cut programs, increased class sizes, diminshed resources and opportunities. Observe and consider the consequences of your no vote as my colleagues and I work double time trying to teach and manage 40 students in our classrooms. Just consider the consquences of your vote to securely place California in DEAD LAST for per pupil spending. Just consider others and the big picture for once....as hard as that me be.

[Al]

We are giving money to goverment officials, they are doing a very bad job and we need to reward them with more money? How about fire all of them put some of them in jail and start over fresh! The taxpayers have to take responsibility to do what the ca goverment is failing to do. Homeschool or send in to private school who are doing better job for much less. Send the nonperforming overpaid teachers to sweeping streets or clean up grafity. Giving up more of your tax dollars meaning less powew to you and more power and abuse by the goverment.

[Saul Gabay]

The reason CA is out of money is due to all the illegal Mexicans in the state sucking down the funds and flooding the classrooms. No wonder the schools are overloaded and English is a second language in Los Angeles. It's the reason I send my kids to private school, I don't want the government spending more money on illegals that don't care about education or learning or even staying here after they make their $$$ and then split to Mexico and retire like fat cats.

[eric osuna]

illegal immigration from latin america into the united states = very light karma

[Jason C]

You Californians have identity crisis. On the social programs side, you guys behave like old Democrats. On the taxation side, you guys behave like old Republicans. The end result? deadlocked.

[Thank God they Failed]

Let it collapse. Lay off 20% of all state workers across the board, immediately. Lay off all 'returning to work' retired state employees looking for a second retirement. Slash and burn in education, law enforcement, prison guards, cal-trans and all other state expenditures. The private sector has dealt with worse over the last year or so. Slash and burn is the only way to make it through this.

[Richard A. Schuller]

The ballot information did not say that there is money in a separate fund for spending. It did say that higher taxes would be levied to create a rainy day fund. In addition it said the rainy day fund would be used in times of economic down turns and OTHER PURPOSES. The other purposes seemed to me to be a blank check.

[AndyS]

How much is illegal immigration costing California now? 15 BILLION a year? After a recent visit in the L.A. area, at times I thought I was in a third world country. The U.S.A. is tossing about at sea, in a raging economic and culture storm, and the boat is overloaded, nearly swamped, and going down.

[Kabar]

Memo to California:
You're not in this mess because you are not taxed enough.... you have some of the highest taxes in the nation. You're in this mess because your spend with RECKLESS abandon!

It doesn't help either that you're living in one of the least business friendly environments in the country.....

I wouldn't move to California and start a business there for all the tea in China....