The PCL Insider: News From The Capitol

IN CALIFORNIA, OUR "ELECTION DAY" IS UNDERWAY

It would be hard to overstate the importance of the election now underway. Yes, a full week before the official November 7th election day, it's already well underway!

Political "insiders" know that the old idea that the election happens on "Election Day" has been superseded. Nowadays, the election starts several weeks before that final deadline. The "vote by mail" vote is substantial and many county election officials make it possible to vote in person as soon as the "vote by mail" process starts by opening the County Courthouse and setting up remote voting stations in airports and other public places.

In case you are one of those California voters who is casting your vote now, we're printing our short but important list of recommendations at the bottom of today's PCL Insider.

To accompany our recommendations, this edition of the Insider has a brief report on what's going on here in Sacramento in anticipation of the results of the November 7th election. We also provide a bit of political philosophy, for your consideration.

Here's how environmental and other groups are preparing for the election outcome:

- Environmentalists and others concerned about the dramatic effect that the passage of Proposition 90 would have on the future of both state and local government are already working with a legal team to consider litigation options.

- Those concerned that the passage of Proposition 1E might actually encourage more building in floodplains (a real possibility) are gearing up for legislative efforts to prevent that from happening.

- Housing, environmental, and social justice advocates, with PCL centrally involved, are working on draft legislation that would ensure that the Passage of Proposition 1C (the Affordable Housing Bond measure, strongly supported by PCL) will result in "smart growth" developments that accomplish environmental, social justice, and transportation goals, not more urban sprawl.

Finally, our brief foray into philosophy -  

Many voters report their frustration with the "initiative" process, and bemoan the fact that so many complicated and critical decisions now seem to take the form of initiatives. Let's take Proposition 84 as an example. PCL is strongly recommending your "YES" vote on Proposition 84, an initiative bond measure that will provide much needed funding for parks, watersheds, and coastal protection. But why do we need an initiative to get this kind of law passed? We do, after all, have an elected Governor, and 120 elected representatives in our State Assembly and State Senate. Couldn't they agree to pass a measure like Proposition 84 on their own? 

Here's the reason: The initiative process is the only way that the people of the state can make important spending decisions by a majority vote. In the Legislature, all proposals that require us to spend money require a 2/3 vote, while other policy decisions require a simple majority. By failing to place our full confidence in democracy (and specifically in the principle of majority rule), we've set up a system in which the initiative process is our only option to get such a "majority vote decision" when dollars and cents are involved. Until our elected representatives can make financial decisions by a majority vote, the only way that a majority of California voters can really get what they want is to wade through a ballot packed with initiatives.

This election, we should vote "YES" on Proposition 84 and make the kind of investment in our environment that PCL believes a majority of Californians know we need to make. Then, we need to start agitating for a repeal of those Constitutional provisions that allow a minority veto of how the majority wants to spend its funds. If we can restore the ability of our Legislature to make decisions on important fiscal matters by a majority vote, we'll have a lot fewer initiative measures on future ballots and more voter engagement in the legislative process. That's good news for all Californians.

DON'T FORGET – "NO" ON 90

PCL is strongly recommending a "NO" vote on Proposition 90, the "Taxpayer Trap." This initiative, funded by a New York state real estate speculator, would cripple the ability of both state and local government to respond to our most serious environmental, economic, and social equity problems. Opposition to Proposition 90 is widespread; PCL is joined in its opposition by the California Building Industry Association, the California Manufacturers Association, and the California Chamber of Commerce. That's unprecedented! If you haven't investigated Proposition 90 yet, you can get the full story at www.noprop90.com.

Our Recommendations
- Proposition 1C – YES (Affordable Housing Bond)
- Proposition 84 – YES (Watershed protection and parks)
- Proposition 87 – YES (Tax oil for alternative fuels)
- Proposition 89 – YES (Public financing to put "Clean Money" in charge of politics)
- Proposition 90 – NO (The Taxpayer Trap – Probably your most important vote!)

HEAR TERRY TAMMINEN DISCUSS HIS NEW BOOK: "LIVES PER GALLON"

Join Terry Tamminen, founder of Santa Monica BayKeeper, former secretary of the California EPA and Chief Policy Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger, when he discusses his new book Lives Per Gallon: The True Cost of Our Oil Addiction.

Lives Per Gallon is a diagnosis of our petroleum problem and a prescription for change. By forcing corporate giants to pay the true cost of their business practices, whether in the courtroom or the court of public opinion, the economics change in favor of more sustainable, healthier products.

Catch Tamminen at these California venues:

Los Angeles
DUTTON'S BEVERLY HILLS
Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.
447 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, CA
(310) 281-0997

San Francisco
CODY'S BOOKS
Nov. 2 at 7 p.m.
1730 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA
(510) 559-9500

San Francisco
COMMONWEALTH CLUB
Nov. 3 at 12 p.m.
595 Market Street, 2nd floor, San Francisco, CA
(415) 597-6700
$8 for Commonwealth Club members, $15 non-members

San Francisco
KEPLER'S BOOKS
Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m.
1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, CA
(650) 324-4321

San Francisco
BOOK PASSAGE
November 20 at 7 p.m.
51 Tamal Vista Boulevard, Corte Madera, CA
(415) 927-0960

More event information available at www.livespergallon.org and www.islandpress.org.