Friends,
The primary election tomorrow is a giant pile of weirdness. The congressional and assembly districts have been redrawn so in our piney paradise, for instance, our assembly district now includes San Diego County down to the Mexican border instead of the Coachella Valley. The well-funded incumbent from Santee (cripes. Santee.) we’ve never heard of and who may have never heard of us, will likely win. Our U.S. representative is facing a battle from an emergency room surgeon from Coachella, but is also likely to win in the fall with a giant funding advantage. I won’t bore you with these races, but there are two ballot measures that could have significance in the state.
Here’s the language voters will see tomorrow:
PROP 28: LIMITS ON LEGISLATORS’ TERMS IN OFFICE. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
SUMMARY Reduces total amount of time a person may serve in the state legislature from 14 years to 12 years. Allows 12 years’ service in one house. Applies only to legislators first elected after measure is passed. Fiscal Impact: No direct fiscal effect on state or local governments.PROP 29: IMPOSES ADDITIONAL TAX ON CIGARETTES FOR CANCER 29 RESEARCH. INITIATIVE STATUTE.
SUMMARY Imposes additional $1.00 per pack tax on cigarettes and an equivalent tax increase on other tobacco products. Revenues fund research for cancer and tobacco-related diseases. Fiscal Impact: Net increase in cigarette excise tax revenues of about $735 million annually by 2013–14 for certain research and tobacco prevention and cessation programs. Other state and local revenue increases amounting to tens of millions of dollars annually.
I’ll be brief on both:
Prop 28 violates my rule in that it amends the state’s already absurdly overwrought constitution. Sure, we should revisit term limits, but not like this. Let’s discuss it at our constitutional convention… I know, spoilers.
Prop 29 adds a new tax with the stated intent to engineer society. The Legislative Analyst’s Office estimate of additional excise tax revenue of $735 million is for one year and earmarked to do an already well-funded thing instead of towards eliminating the deficit. This is absurd on a policy level and will have consequences in November when the Governor’s tax plan comes up for a vote. But let’s say, just for kicks, that adding a buck per pack tax persuades people to quit. What happens to First 5 funds, that come from other cigarette taxes? How will the legislature make up the tax revenue that would’ve gone to the General Fund? Are you pondering what I’m pondering? (i think so, but then how will the former low-income smokers get health care? – ed)
I love it when we do impressions.
– bob