California Special Election: Prop. 1E explained
What Proposition 1E would do: This measure would temporarily shift money away from a mental health program established by voters in 2004, paid for with a 1% tax on personal income above $1 million.
Quick take: About $460 million would be diverted from mental health programs over the next two years -- roughly a quarter of the program's revenues during that period -- to help balance the state's books. The redirected money would fund screening, diagnosis and treatment services for MediCal patients younger than 21, including those in need of mental health help. The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office says the measure would temporarily reduce money available for mental health programs.
-- Evan Halper
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Discuss: Should the state temporarily reduce voter approved mental health programs to balance the budget?
Share your comments or upload a video with your answer here.
What they're not telling you about Prop 1E:
Another shell game to take funds from a program to balance the budget. After the two years are up, the EPSDT funds that were cut from the General Fund are restored, leading to more deficits again.
Prop 63 was designed as a lockbox program to prevent exactly this type of raid, yet here it is anyway.
Posted by: Tannim | May 12, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Should the state temporarily reduce voter-approved mental health programs to balance the budget? NO!
Posted by: cleo | May 13, 2009 at 03:27 PM
NO NO NO! These, probably illegal immigrants, take enough from this state and our government. Look at where we are at today! Practically bankrupt because of it. Enough of this air of entitlement that has proliferated and infected our society. Let the parent(s) take care of their babies, not the government. They can have 'em, they can care for 'em!
Posted by: RICHARD | May 13, 2009 at 04:14 PM
Commenter Richard, typical of the xenophobes that populate internet chat boards, says that all of the mentally ill in california are "probably illegal immigrants". Wow. Putting the rather obvious scientific problem of assuming that members of the same species have radically different incidences of documented disease simply because of some sort of paperwork, this is the sort of mentality that got California where it is - racist, simplistic views and a bizarre, math-free belief that there is really plenty of money out there and it's just "brown people" that are taking it all. Reality check, folks: CA is the victim of 30 years of Prop 13 and right-wing economics, leaving the state without a first world taxation structure that can withstand downturns. Richard, if you want to live in a third world failed state, where the mentally ill die on the street (and yes, we have a bit of that now, because of people like Richard) there are many out there to choose from. But don't take the rest of us down with you.
Posted by: Susan | May 13, 2009 at 04:48 PM
Why don't we start cuting salaries from our fat over weight politicans. They gave them self a rise not to long ago right. Well i think most of califorinians are cutting back on their expenses due to unemployed or cut backs in labor. I don't hear that effecting our over paid politicians. If i didn't produce at my job i would be fired and replace with someone who could. So why do we have to stand for midieoker and expensive representation...CUTS, CUTS, CUTS that is the answer, how about reduce spending! Now they are threating our helpless citizens, they let the banks do what they want with our homes, mental insurance is sky high, we lost many industries due to taxes and no incentives to remain open. when is it going to stop?
Posted by: frank salazar | May 13, 2009 at 05:02 PM
Yes. Budgeting by initiative has been one factor that has given us the current dismal state of affairs. It relieves the Legislature of the responsibility of governing and limits the ability of the government to make the hard choices. This program, along with First 5 and Prop 98 (mandated education funding) should be forced to compete with other state programs for funding.
Posted by: RDW | May 13, 2009 at 05:05 PM
If California could gain control of the 20% of the mentally ill who use up 80% of the available resources, there would be plenty left to take care of others.
Posted by: HHilborn | May 13, 2009 at 05:37 PM
If props 1A, 1C, 1D, and 1E don't pass, what will happen to the state university systems?
Posted by: Rob | May 15, 2009 at 09:36 AM
Richard, Illegal immigrants are not entitled to mental health programs (Prop. 1E). Please, don't be so ignorant.
Posted by: Moni | May 20, 2009 at 09:17 AM