California 2008 ballot propositions
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Twenty-one (21) statewide ballot propositions were on the2008 ballot inCalifornia.
- Seven measures were on the ballot on February 5, 2008. Four were approved and three were defeated.
- Two measures were on the ballot on June 3, 2008. One was approved and one was defeated.
Twelve measures were on the ballot on November 4, 2008. Seven were approved and five were defeated. Cumulative spending on the November statewide ballot proposition campaigns was about $227 million.[1]
Of the 21 propositions on the California ballot in 2008 (including all three election dates):
- Fifteen werecitizen-initiated measures. Six were approved and nine were defeated.
- Two werelegislative referrals. Both were approved.
- Four wereveto referenda. All were approved, thereby upholding the targeted legislation.
On the ballot
February 5
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CICA | Proposition 91 | Transportation | Prohibits funds generated from certain gas taxes dedicated for transportation projects from being deposited into the state's general fund |  d |
| CICA/SS | Proposition 92 | Education | Changes the existing formula for community college funding; reducing the credit fee from $20 per unit to $15 per unit; and establishing independent community college districts and board of governors | d |
| CICA | Proposition 93 | Term limits | Amends the state's term limits to limit state legislators to a maximum of 12 years in office without regard to what chamber they were serving in | d |
| VR | Proposition 94 | Gambling | Upholds or rejects an amendment to the gaming compact between the state and the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians to allow them to operate an additional 5,500 slot machines and require the tribe to pay $42.5 million and a portion of the additional slot revenue to the state |  a |
| VR | Proposition 95 | Gambling | Upholds or rejects an amendment to the gaming compact between the state and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians to allow them to operate an additional 5,500 slot machines and require the tribe to pay $36.7 million and a portion of the additional slot revenue to the state | a |
| VR | Proposition 96 | Gambling | Upholds or rejects a gaming compact enacted in early 2007 between the state of California and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation | a |
| VR | Proposition 97 | Gambling | Upholds or rejects an amendment to the gaming compact between the state and the Aqua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians to allow them to operate an additional 3,000 slot machines and require the tribe to pay $23.4 million and a portion of the additional slot revenue to the state | a |
June 3
- SeeJune 3, 2008 ballot measures in California forlocal ballot measures (cities, counties, school districts).
- Ballotpedia's complete list of June 3 election results.
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CICA | Proposition 98 | Eminent domain | Places limits on the power of government to take property from one private owner through the process of eminent domain and give it to another private owner; prohibiting any future rent control measures; phases out rent control measures enacted prior to January 2007s | d |
| CICA | Proposition 99 | Eminent domain | Prohibits state and local governments from acquiring an owner-occupied residence for the purpose of conveying it to another person with certain listed exceptions, including, "protecting public health and safety; preventing serious, repeated criminal activity; responding to an emergency; or remedying environmental contamination that poses a threat to public health and safety" | a |
November 4
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BI | Proposition 1A | Bonds | Authorizes $9.95 in bonds for high-speed rail | a |
| CISS | Proposition 2 | Animal rights | Establishes minimum space requirements based on square feet for calves raised for veal, breeding pigs, and egg-laying hens | a |
| CISS | Proposition 3 | Bonds | Issues $980 million in bonds for children's hospitals | a |
| CICA | Proposition 4 | Abortion | Requires parental notification before a minor can receive an abortion | d |
| CISS | Proposition 5 | Law enforcement | Changes to drug crime policy, sentencing, and rehabilitation programs | d |
| CISS | Proposition 6 | Law enforcement | Changes to gang-related criminal laws, law enforcement funding, and parole agent caseloads | d |
| CISS | Proposition 7 | Environment | Changes the state's renewable portfolio standards | d |
| CICA | Proposition 8 | Marriage | Defines marriage as between one man and one woman, thus reversing a state judicial ruling that legalized same-sex marriage in California | a ot |
| CICA/SS | Proposition 9 | Law enforcement | Adds specific rights of crime victims, together known as Marsy's Law, to the California Constitution | a |
| CISS | Proposition 10 | Environment | Authorizes the state to issue $5 billion in bonds for alternative fuel projects | d |
| CICA/SS | Proposition 11 | Redistricting | Transfers the legislative redistricting power from elected representatives to a 14 member commission; establishes a process for selecting commissioners; and requiring a supermajority vote to approve redistricting map | a |
| BI | Proposition 12 | Bonds | Issues $900 million in bonds to provide loans to veterans to purchase homes or farms | a |
Getting measures on the ballot
Legislative referrals
TheCalifornia State Legislature may refer constitutional amendments to the ballot with atwo-thirds (66.67%) vote in each chamber.
The legislature can refer statutes and bond issues with a simple majority vote, but the governor's signature is also required.
In California, changes to voter-approved ballot initiatives need to be referred to voters for approval or rejection unless the changes further the initiative's purpose.
Initiatives
The number of valid signatures for citizen-initiated measures in California are based on the votes cast for governor in the last gubernatorial election, which are held every four years.Initiated constitutional amendments require 8% of that total whileinitiated state statutes andveto referendums require 5%. The requirements for each type in 2008 were as follows:
- Initiated constitutional amendment (ICA):694,354
- Initiated state statute (ISS):433,971
- Veto referendum (VR):433,971
Cost of signatures
Not on the ballot
| Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Drinking Water Bond Act | Bonds | Issues $6,835,000,000 ($6.835 billion) in bonds for water projects |
| College Affordability Act | Education | Freezes, for five years, mandatory fees paid by undergraduates for attending state universities |
| Teacher Recruitment | Education | Prohibits school districts from paying any employee a salary higher than that of highest-paid classroom teacher |
| Protect Marriage | Marriage | Defines marriage as between one man and one woman |
| Eminent Domain Protection | Eminent domain | Restricts the use ofeminent domain |
| Water Storage & Reliability | Bond issue | Issues $11,690,000,000 ($11.69 billion) bond issue for water projects |
| Human Embryo Research | Stem cells | Bans "destructive human embryo research" |
| Human Cloning Ban | Stem cells | Bans human cloning |
| Abortion regulations | Abortion | Ban on abortions at viability |
| Fair Districts Act | Elections | Changes how state legislative district boundaries are drawn |
| Healthcare for Veterans | Healthcare | Concerns veteran healthcare funding |
| Health Security | Healthcare | Establishes a California Health Security Plan |
| Voter Restoration Act | Election reform | Changes how state legislative district boundaries are drawn |
| Prisoner Rehabilitation | Law enforcement | Allows inmates more access to educational, treatment, and visitation programs |
| Dietary Supplement Expense | Taxes | Creates a medical expense deduction on state income tax for dietary supplements and special foods |
| Repeals marijuana penalties | Marijuana | Decriminalizes marijuana |
| Tangible Ballots | Elections | Requires votes on a direct-recording electronic device to result in a tangible ballot |
| Prohibits sterilization | Animal rights | Forbids sterilization of animals or humans |
| Domestic Partnerships | Marriage | Recognizes marriage as between one man and one woman |
| Property Ownership | Property rights | Forbids local governments from denying land ownership |
| Animals are Property | Animal rights | Defines animals as property |
| Prohibition of Identification Devices | Animal rights | Prohibits placing identification devices under animal or human skin |
| Animal license fees | Animal rights | Forbids local governments from charging more than $50 for an animal license |
| Stray and relinguished animals | Animal rights | Establishes statewide standards for animal euthansia at shelters |
| Right to Health | Healthcare | Declares that health is a fundamental constitutional right |
| Health insurance | Healthcare | Concerns health insurance for children |
| Taxpayer Protection Act | Elections and campaigns | Prohibits government-to-government lobbying |
| Political Party Nomination | Elections | Selects presidential electors by proportional plurality vote under certain conditions |
| Corporate Crimes | Business regulation | Requires business execs to report corporate crimes in writing |
| Electoral College Reform | Elections | Requires parties to nominate a presidential elector from each congressional district |
| National Popular Vote Act | Elections | Gives the state'spresidential electors given to winner of national popular vote |
| Healthy Californians Act | Healthcare | Adds "and affordable health care" to the statebill of rights |
| Class Action Reform Act | Judicial reform | Reforms class action regulations |
| Non-Profit Plaintiffs Act | Judicial reform | Allows certain nonprofits to be plaintiffs in class-action lawsuits |
| Shareholder Approval of Compensation | Business regulation | Requires that if a public company does business in California, its shareholders must approve the compensation plans for the top 10 highest-paid executives |
| Corporate Accountability Act | Business regulation | Compensates the public for the harm inflicted by corporate fraud |
| Prison Population Reduction Act | Law enforcement | Reduces the prison population through work time credit and resentencing |
| Prisoner Rights Act | Law enforcement | Concerns rehabilitation education for prisoners |
| Nuclear Energy Regulations | Nuclear power | Repeals existing restrictions on state approval of construction of nuclear power plants |
| Redistricting Proposal | Redistricting | Establishes a citizens redistricting commission |
| Wealth Tax | Taxes | Imposes 45% tax on value of property exceeding $40 million |
| Child Abuse Reporting | Welfare | Requires training on recognizing child abuse and neglect to all those that are required to report it by law |
| Redistricting Proposal | Redistricting | Establishes Citizens Redistricting Commission |
| Worker's Compensation | Healthcare | Allows employees to choose medical treatment centers without company approval when injured because of work |
| Legislature Reimbursement | Admin of gov't | Restricts legislators' reimbursements to travel expenses; reduces expenses by $4.5 million annually |
| Lobbying Gifts | Elections | Bans legislatures from accepting gift from lobbyists or trade associations |
| Class Action Lawsuits | Judiciary | Concerns class action lawsuits |
| Corporate Crime Reporting | Business regulation | Concerns crime reporting |
| Treatment of Farm Animals | Animal rights | Requires enclosed animals to be able to fully extend their limbs or wings, lie down, stand up, and turn around |
| Internet Poker Statute | Gambling | Creates a state-owned poker website |
| Limit on Marriage | Marriage | Defines marriage as between one man and one woman |
| Pension reform | Healthcare | Reduces pension and retirement health care benefits for all public employees hired after July 9th, 2009 |
| Personal Income Tax Abolishment | Taxes | Abolishes the state personal income tax; increases state sales and use tax by 5.5% |
| Universal Healthcare Reform | Healthcare | Creates universal health care |
| Candidate Vote Requirement | Election Reform | Mandates a runoff election when no candidate in a state or federal election receives more than 50% of the total votes |
| Uninsured motorist | Law enforcement | Requires police officers who issue a citation for failure to provide proof of insurance to remove the vehicle’s license plates |
See also
External links
- California Secretary of State
- California State Legislature
- Official Voter Information Guide February 5, 2008
- Official Voter Information Guide June 3, 2008
- Official Voter's Guide November 4, 2008
- PDF of the mailed February 5, 2008 voter guide for Propositions 91-93
- PDF of the mailed February 5, 2008 voter guide for Propositions 94-97
- PDF of the mailed June 3, 2008 voter guide
- PDF of the mailed November 4, 2008 voter guide
- Election returns:February 5, 2008
- California Voter Foundation:February 5, 2008 propositions
- California Voter Foundation:June 3, 2008 propositions
- California Voter Foundation:November 4, 2008 propositions
- Directory of California's 2008 state propositions on Smart Voter
Footnotes
- ↑Associated Press, reprinted in Gay and Lesbian Times, "Calif. initiative campaigns cost $227 million," February 12, 2009
- ↑The Cal-Access database lists two campaign committees as having registered in support of Proposition 92. One of these organizations ("Yes on 92! Students and Educators in Support") shows no expenditures of any kind. The other organization,"Yes on Proposition 92, Californians for Improving Community Colleges, a Coalition of Educators and Community College Organizations", shows one $38,000 expenditure toArno Political Consultants. In our judgment, it is very unlikely that only $38,000 was spent collecting signatures for Proposition 92. It is more likely that there is a flaw in the database.
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