2005 INITIATIVE SUMMARY

SCHWARZENEGGER INITIATIVES

"Paycheck Protection" for public sector unions (currently in circulation)
Would make it more difficult for working people to have a voice in the political process. Requires that public employee unions get permission of each member or agency fee payer every year in writing before it can use any of his or her dues for any political purpose. Similar to Prop 226.

School funding and state spending limits (currently in circulation)
Changes state minimum school funding requirements (Proposition 98), permitting suspension of minimum funding. Spending limit could constrain state expenditures and investment in transportation, education, and other state programs.

Merit pay for teachers (currently in circulation)
Makes employment decisions by a school district be based solely on employee performance and on the needs of the school district without consideration of seniority.

Teacher Tenure (currently in circulation)
Would more than double the number of years required for teacher tenure.

Redistricting of legislative and congressional districts (currently in circulation)
Moves the redistricting process to a panel of judges selected by legislative leaders. Would occur immediately upon passage of the measure and after each census.

2/3 Vote Requirement for Fee Increases (currently in circulation)
Would make it more difficult for government to impose fees on businesses and corporations. It would make it almost impossible to pass regulatory fees that polluting companies currently pay to clean our land, air and water of their toxic pollution. Instead, taxpayers will have to pay.

LABOR/ALLIES COUNTER-MEASURES

Prescription drugs program (currently in circulation)
Allows CA Dept. of Health Services to create program to use manufacturer rebates and pharmacy discounts to reduce prescription drug prices for Californians.

Used car buyer bill of rights (currently in circulation)
Establishes consumer protections for used car buyers.

Same percent vote requirements (currently in circulation)
Ballot measures that impose new "super-majority" vote requirements would be
required to pass by the same "super-majority".

Repeal of Electricity Deregulation (currently in circulation)
Would reinstate that rates and terms of retail electric service are regulated by the PUC. Would require that the PUC make "best value for ratepayers" its primary goal and establish reserve requirements to prevent future blackouts.

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