We’ve been following, from time to time, the situation with Proposition 75, which is an Arnold Schwarzenegger-backed initiative that would require government employee unions to give prior notice to members before using dues on political activity.

Here is a poll that looks at the support for Prop 75 and a set of other propositions. The good news here is that Prop 75, which was drawing majority support just a few weeks ago, seems to be slipping–though this is only one snapshot. And I’ll also stick down below there quick explanations of the key propositions:

PROPOSITION 73 – Termination of Minor’s Pregnancy -Waiting Period and Parental Notification.

This would require parental notice and a 48-hour waiting period before a minor could receive an abortion. Does not provide exceptions for incest and defines life as starting at conception. The bottom line is the health of the minor. If minors seeking abortions are required by law to notify their parents, a certain number of them will seek abortions from non-medical providers — which will endanger their health, and in some cases, their lives. For more than 50 years, California law has provided for minors to consult with their doctors about who should be notified, instead of being forced to notify specific people. It is better and safer if minors know that such discussions will remain confidential.

Hidden Agenda: This is an amendment to the State Constitution that defines abortion “As causing the death of the unborn child, a child conceived but not yet born.”- A hidden attack on Roe v Wad by right wing strategists.

PROPOSITION 74 -Public School Teachers -Waiting Period for Permanent Status. Dismissal.

Increases waiting period required before teacher receives basic job protection from two to five years. This includes the right to a hearing if dismissed. This would discourage qualified teachers from working in California public schools since tenure wait is much longer than elsewhere. Top-ranked educators will be less interested in working in our schools if they have to work five years before receiving basic rights, such as the right to only be fired for cause. We will need an additional 100,000 teachers in the next ten years. Proposition 74 discourages the recruitment of the “best and the brightest”.

Hidden Agenda: To shift the focus by blaming teachers for poor performance of the educational system in the State.

PROPOSITION 75 –Public Employee Unions Dues – Requires employee consent for union’s political contributions.

Prohibits public employee’s labor organizations from using dues or fees for political contributions unless each employee provides written consent annually. Union leaders are elected representatives who may act for unions without having to ask each member again for permission. Union members already have to give permission for their dues to be used for political purposes and may rescind that permission at any time. No equivalent restraint applies to corporate money.

Hidden Agenda: This initiative is crafted to create a bureaucratic hurdle for organized labor.

PROPOSITION 76 – VOTE NO
State Spending. School Funding

Limits state spending to prior year’s level plus three previous years’ average revenue growth (or decline). Reduces minimum school funding. Under this proposal, as few as 14 members of the state legislature (12% of the total) would be able to block adoption of the state budget, and thereby transfer to the governor unilateral control over the state’s expenditures. This also cuts school budgets $4 billion a year ($600 per student). We are now ranked with the 5 lowest States in the amount spent per student in the nation.

Hidden Agenda: To remove checks and balances in the State’s financial matters.

PROPOSITION 77 – Reapportionment

This would require a three-member panel of retired judges to draw and immediately implement new district lines for California’s Senate, Assembly, Congressional, and Board of Equalization districts. The proposal gives the power to draw districts to retired judges, because most of them were appointed by previous Republican governors. Adopting new maps in mid-cycle without the benefit of new census information would be meaningless as to fairness and throw the next election into chaos.

Hidden Agenda : Governor hopes to be able to advantage Republican candidates and increase the Republican legislative contingent in the 2006 election.

PROPOSITION 78 –Prescription Drug Discounts – Drug Company initiative

Provides for prescription drug discounts to Californians who qualify based on income-related standards. Endorsed by pharmaceutical companies, this measure simply asks such companies to provide discounts, without providing any incentive to make sure the discounts are actually offered. Unfortunately, this means the discounts it promises are illusions. The pharmaceutical industry is spending millions to persuade voters to support this measure, instead of the more serious alternative, Proposition 79.

Hidden Agenda: The purpose of this initiative is to confuse the voters by presenting a similar sounding proposal.

PROPOSITION 79 – Prescription Drug Discounts – State-Negotiated Rebates- Consumer Initiative
This would provide lower-income Californians with relief from the high cost of prescription drugs by giving drug companies a strong incentive to offer such discounts. If a company chose not to offer these discounts, its products would be excluded from the Medi-Cal market, which is an important source of profit for pharmaceuticals. More people meet the income levels to qualify
for the discounts than under Prop. 78