Sachole Prop Countdown: Prop 21

ESTABLISHES $18 ANNUAL VEHICLE LICENSE SURCHARGE TO HELP FUND STATE PARKS AND WILDLIFE PROGRAMS. GRANTS SURCHARGED VEHICLES FREE ADMISSION TO ALL STATE PARKS. INITIATIVE STATUTE.

Exempts commercial vehicles, trailers and trailer coaches from the surcharge. Fiscal Impact: Annual increase to state revenues of $500 million from surcharge on vehicle registrations. After offsetting some existing funding sources, these revenues would provide at least $250 million more annually for state parks and wildlife conservation.

Yes: An $18 annual surcharge would be added to the amount paid when a person registers a motor vehicle. The surcharge revenues would be used to provide funding for state park and wildlife conservation programs. Vehicles subject to the surcharge would have free admission and parking at all state parks. 

No: A NO vote on this measure means: State park and wildlife conservation programs would continue to be funded through existing state and local funding sources. Admission and parking fees could continue to be charged for vehicles entering state parks. 

Another f'ing car tax: From a KFI listener -- "Let's not give in to another car tax guys. Prop 21 is such BS and this vid speaks real spit. It's funny how the voice says "because you need it ha ha ha" their laughing at us guys, California is the highest TAX state in the nation. I just recently went to Verizon and purchased a phone that was on sale. The phone was 199 on sale but the retail price was 500, because i live in California i had to pay TAX on the retail price but how is this, i paid 199 for the phone i should pay TAX on 199. We keep getting screwed because we don't care, well let start caring. VOTE NO on prop 21."

From another post:  "I would rather see some land in each of the state parks set aside for marijuana cultivation to pay for the costs of maintaining the parks. Let them be self funded instead of car fee subsidized."  Amen.  (see prop 19)


State parks generate 300 million dollars for the state - Here's an idealistic video for Yes on 21 video:

 

It's a nice video, and yes yes yes, nobody wants parks to be closed.  There are better ways to fund these beautiful parks than by punishing drivers - most drivers don't go to state parks often enough to care anyway.

Sacholes Prop Countdown: Prop 20 is a redistricting prop

REDISTRICTING OF CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.  

INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

Removes elected representatives from process of establishing congressional districts and transfers that authority to recently-authorized 14-member redistricting commission comprised of Democrats, Republicans, and respresentatives of neither party. Fiscal Impact: No significant net change in state redistricting costs.

Yes:  This gives redistricting rights to the Citizens Redistricting Commission, a commission established by Proposition 11 in 2008.
NO:  The responsibility to determine the boundaries of California's districts in the U.S. House of Representatives would remain with the Legislature.

Voting Yes on Proposition 20 expands the work of the voter-approved independent Citizens Redistricting Commission so that the Commission, rather than politicians, draws election districts for members of Congress. It ensures voters can finally hold politicians accountable through fair elections. And if the politicians don’t do their jobs, Prop. 20 makes it easier to vote them out of office!

No: Sacramento Bee: "While [supporters of Proposition 20] are right to say that many congressional districts are drawn for purely partisan purposes and unfairly protect incumbents, reform needs to happen on the national level, not just in a single state. California's interests could be harmed if it alone undertook an experiment in reforming how congressional districts are drawn. Imprudently mapped districts could leave the state with far less seniority in Congress than it now enjoys, giving the state less clout over appropriations and legislation."