Editorial, THE MERCED SUN-STAR
Support an open primary, do not repeal the ban on public finance, and vote no on self-serving measures.
There is one week to go before the statewide primary election Tuesday, June 8. We want to take this opportunity to reiterate our recommendations on the propositions.
Since this is a primary, we are not making any recommendations on statewide races. We’ll save those for the general election in November. Instead, we will let the voters in all the parties work that out for themselves.
The full version of these editorials ran May 1, 2 and 3 if you want to review them in their entirety.
Yes on Proposition 13
There aren’t many issues that get a unanimous vote in the Legislature, but a measure to encourage earthquake retrofits has that bipartisan support. We recommend a “yes” vote on Proposition 13.
California permanently exempts most earthquake upgrades from property tax reassessments, but that exemption has limits on older unreinforced masonry buildings. Proposition 13 would change that unwise policy, and provide equal incentives for earthquake retrofits regardless of the type of building.
Yes on Proposition 14
California has a growing bloc of moderate voters. The problem is they lack representation. These voters watch in frustration as candidates win election with platforms that are consistently far more liberal or conservative than the mainstream of California. It’s no wonder that many voters are growing cynical, tuning out from politics and dropping their party registration.
If voters approve Proposition 14, it would restore an open primary in California to races for Congress, the Legislature, the governor and other statewide offices. Instead of party primaries, candidates from all parties or political affiliations would run against each other. Voters registered as Democrats could vote for a Republican or a third-party candidate, and vice versa. The top two vote-getters would advance to a runoff.
No on Proposition 15
California elections are dominated by self-funded candidates, high-dollar individual donors and union donors. Proposition 15 was placed on the ballot by the Legislature with a bill signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and would repeal the 1988 ban on public financing. But public financing supporters would be better off with a measure repealing the ban on public campaign finance, freeing local government to figure out financing for local races and reopen discussions about public financing for legislative races like the 1988 Proposition 68 did.
No on Proposition 16
Pacific Gas and Electric is trying to manipulate California voters to limit its competitors in the energy field. The stakes are high for PG&E, which is why the utility is dumping millions into Proposition 16, a self-serving measure on the June 8 ballot.
Make no mistake. Proposition 16 is the worst of the worst of the measures on the June ballot. With most initiatives we have to worry about the unintended consequences, but with Proposition 16 we should worry about PG&E’s “intended consequences.” This initiative would rewrite the state Constitution to restrict municipal electric utilities from expanding service unless voters approved it by a two-thirds vote. This is only about limiting competition to enhance PG&E profits.
No on Proposition 17
There’s another anti-consumer initiative on the June 8 ballot in California. Mercury Insurance claims in advertisements that Proposition 17 will help motorists when buying auto insurance. This measure’s only aim is to increase for its sponsor.
In 1988, voters approved Proposition 103, which instituted major changes in auto insurance to protect consumers from arbitrary rate increases and to encourage a competitive market.
Proposition 17, under the pretense of offering discounts to those who provide evidence of prior insurance, would actually allow insurance companies to charge other customers higher premiums.
This is one more instance in which voters must ignore the self-serving propaganda of an initiative sponsor.
Editorials are the opinion of the Merced Sun-Star editorial board. Members of the editorial board include Publisher Debra Kuykendall, Executive Editor Mike Tharp, Editorial Page Editor Keith Jones, Copy Desk Chief Jesse Chenault and Online Editor Brandon Bowers.
Tags: big corporations, contributions, deceptive, Editorial, Mercury, overcharges, Prop 17, voters
