California Family Minute
June 18, 2011
The Stop Special Interest Money Now Act is an initiative by the people of California that would significantly reduce the power of corporate and labor unions on politicians. California’s Secretary of State has just released this initiative for signature gathering. If it receives enough signatures by registered voters to be placed on the June 2012 Primary Election ballot, here’s what the Act will do:
In other news, StoptheMoneyPit.com, a California alliance determined to end redevelopment agencies, has scored a tentative victory with the California Legislature’s vote this week to de-fund the agencies or allow them to continue only if each agency reimburses the state for services. According to the alliance’s Web site, “there are some 425 redevelopment agencies in California, located in almost every city and town, and they use your tax dollars to underwrite development projects.”
Governor Jerry Brown’s initial budget in January proposed to eliminate redevelopment agencies. Local governments divert property taxes that might otherwise go to public education, law enforcement or fire protection in order to fund these agencies. But those cities and counties that use tax money for redevelopment agencies still need these services, so the state government has been supplying additional tax money to pay for them, to the tune of $1.7 billion annually.
Although Brown’s plan was met with strong resistance from cities across the state, Mark Whitaker with the state’s Legislative Analyst Office said, “The state is essentially subsidizing a huge program that we’re not sure is benefiting the state as a whole.”
Whitaker said that no studies on redevelopment show that they create more businesses and jobs in California.
And finally, Gov. Brown yesterday put a stop to a partisan budget submitted by the state legislature’s Democrats. Less than a day after the budget was submitted, Brown vetoed it and responded in a letter to lawmakers that instead of offering a balanced solution the budget continued with “big deficits” and added billions in new debt. Brown added, “Finally, it is not financeable and therefore will not allow us to meet our obligations as they occur.”
Gov. Brown continues to seek help from Republican legislators to extend temporary taxes and create a special tax election. Brown said that if Republican representatives do not support his plan, then the blame for the critical loss of services would fall squarely on their shoulders.
- Link here to read CitizenLink’s “Friday Five” online report featuring CFC’s Ron Prentice.
- Watch a biographical interview of CFC staff member Jim Domen and his wife, airing nationally on ABC Family Channel’s 700 Club Interactive on Tuesday, June 21, at 9:30 am PDT.
The Stop Special Interest Money Now Act is an initiative by the people of California that would significantly reduce the power of corporate and labor unions on politicians. California’s Secretary of State has just released this initiative for signature gathering. If it receives enough signatures by registered voters to be placed on the June 2012 Primary Election ballot, here’s what the Act will do:
- Bans both corporate and labor union contributions to candidates;
- Prohibits government contractors from contributing money to government officials who award them contracts;
- Prohibits corporations and labor unions from collecting political funds from employees and union members using the inherently coercive means of payroll deduction; and
- Makes all employee political contributions by any other means strictly voluntary, requiring annual written consent.
In other news, StoptheMoneyPit.com, a California alliance determined to end redevelopment agencies, has scored a tentative victory with the California Legislature’s vote this week to de-fund the agencies or allow them to continue only if each agency reimburses the state for services. According to the alliance’s Web site, “there are some 425 redevelopment agencies in California, located in almost every city and town, and they use your tax dollars to underwrite development projects.”
Governor Jerry Brown’s initial budget in January proposed to eliminate redevelopment agencies. Local governments divert property taxes that might otherwise go to public education, law enforcement or fire protection in order to fund these agencies. But those cities and counties that use tax money for redevelopment agencies still need these services, so the state government has been supplying additional tax money to pay for them, to the tune of $1.7 billion annually.
Although Brown’s plan was met with strong resistance from cities across the state, Mark Whitaker with the state’s Legislative Analyst Office said, “The state is essentially subsidizing a huge program that we’re not sure is benefiting the state as a whole.”
Whitaker said that no studies on redevelopment show that they create more businesses and jobs in California.
And finally, Gov. Brown yesterday put a stop to a partisan budget submitted by the state legislature’s Democrats. Less than a day after the budget was submitted, Brown vetoed it and responded in a letter to lawmakers that instead of offering a balanced solution the budget continued with “big deficits” and added billions in new debt. Brown added, “Finally, it is not financeable and therefore will not allow us to meet our obligations as they occur.”
Gov. Brown continues to seek help from Republican legislators to extend temporary taxes and create a special tax election. Brown said that if Republican representatives do not support his plan, then the blame for the critical loss of services would fall squarely on their shoulders.
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