Nov 2008 Recommendations

Ballot recommendations include endorsements from the State, County, and regional Clubs.

Propositions

Propositions have not had numbers assigned yet.

Designation	Name	State Position
1.	High Speed Rail Train Bond	YES
2.	Treatment of Farm Animals	YES
3.	Children's Hospital Bond Act	YES
4.	Parental Notification Constitutional Amendment	NO
5.	Nonviolent offenders, sentencing, parole and rehabilitation statute	YES
6.	Criminal Penalties and Laws -- public safety funding statute	NO
7.	Renewable Energy funding statute	NO
8.	Limit on Marriage Constitutional Amendment	NO
9.	Criminal Justice System Victim's Rights Const. Amendment and statute	NO
10.	Alternative Fuel Vehicle and Renewable Energy General Fund Bond	Neutral
11.	Redistricting Constitutional Amendment	NO

Details

Prop 1

This bill would enact the Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act for the 21st Century, which, subject to voter approval, would provide for the issuance of $9.95 billion of general obligation bonds, $9 billion of which would be used in conjunction with available federal funds for the purpose of funding the planning and construction of a high-speed train system in this state pursuant to the business plan of the authority. Nine hundred fifty million dollars of the bond proceeds would be available for capital projects on other passenger rail lines to provide connectivity to the high-speed train system and for capacity enhancements and safety improvements to those lines.

Having a reliable and safe rail line between SF and LA is essential to reducing our reliance on relatively inefficient travel modes, such as car and plane.

Prop 2

Requires that an enclosure or tether confining specified farm animals allow the animals for the majority of every day to fully extend their limbs or wings, lie down, stand up, and turn around. Specified animals include calves raised for veal, egg-laying hens, and pregnant pigs. Exceptions made for transportation, rodeos, fairs, 4-H programs, lawful slaughter, research and veterinary purposes. Provides misdemeanor penalties, including a fine not to exceed $1,000 and/or imprisonment in jail for up to 180 days. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Probably minor local and state enforcement and prosecution costs, partly offset by increased fine revenue. (Initiative 07-0041.)

Full Text

In conversation with local egg farmers, they claim that this proposition would require free-range chickens. However, in my reading of the law, it would only require that they reduce the density of egg-laying chickens in their pens. This would result in eggs that are slightly more expensive than imported eggs. We should push for marking of any animals products that do not comply with the ethical treatment standards.

-- Raymond Lutz - 18 Jun 2008