MALDEF

MALDEF ANNOUNCES POSITIONS AND ENDORSEMENTS ON NOVEMBER 2, 2010 CALIFORNIA AND ARIZONA BALLOT PROPOSITIONS

LOS ANGELES, CA – Today, MALDEF announced positions and endorsements on seven ballot propositions appearing on California's statewide election ballots, one ballot proposition appearing on San Francisco County election ballots, and three ballot propositions appearing on Arizona's statewide election ballots. All ballots are scheduled for November 2, 2010:

California Proposition 20: NO

Prop. 20 would assign congressional redistricting to the state's previously-established redistricting commission.

Leaving congressional redistricting to the state legislature while the redistricting commission handles the redrawing of state legislative districts will allow California residents to see and evaluate both decisionmakers in order to decide which entity should have the responsibility for redistricting in the future.

California Proposition 21: YES

Prop. 21 would establish a modest vehicle license fee to support state parks while providing free admission to the parks for surcharged vehicles.

The measure provides much-needed resources to state parks while ensuring free access to state residents with a vehicle.

California Proposition 23: NO

Prop. 23 would suspend indefinitely California's groundbreaking laws to control and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming.

The measure is an unnecessary step backwards in addressing global warming, a critical issue of great concern to all Californians.

California Proposition 24: YES

Prop. 24 would repeal tax breaks granted to all businesses in recent years.

The measure increases needed state revenues without affecting the tax rates of individual taxpayers.

California Proposition 25: YES

Prop. 25 would remove the supermajority requirement for the state legislature to adopt the state budget.

The measure is an important step toward eliminating the legislative gridlock that every year threatens to paralyze the state at budget time.

California Proposition 26: NO

Prop. 26 would impose a supermajority requirement on the legislature in enacting certain levies and charges.

Permitting a small minority of the legislature to block critical legislation already contributes significantly to the state's precarious fiscal condition.

California Proposition 27: NO

Prop. 27 would abolish the previously-established redistricting commission charged with redrawing state legislative districts.

The redistricting commission, already well into the process of selecting its members, deserves the opportunity to demonstrate if it is an effective means of accomplishing redistricting.

San Francisco Proposition D: YES

Prop. D would permit all parents residing in the school district to vote in the election of school board members.

This measure would ensure that the most important stakeholders in public schools have a strong voice in the governance of San Francisco public schools.

Arizona Proposition 106: NO

Prop. 106 would place various provisions in the state constitution with the sole apparent purpose of obstructing the implementation of recently-enacted federal health care reform.

The measure is an unnecessary enactment on the ballot simply to permit certain Arizona elected officials to continue their campaign of hostility toward the federal government.

Arizona Proposition 107: NO

Prop. 107 seeks to end affirmative action efforts in education, employment and contracting.

Based on similar measures passed in California and other states, this measure would present serious obstacles to equal opportunity for all students, employees, and businesses in an increasingly diverse Arizona.

Arizona Proposition 113: NO

Prop. 113 would place a provision in the state constitution designed to prevent employees from obtaining representation by a union through submitting cards or other indications of majority support for such representation.

This measure is another unnecessary proposal whose sole purpose seems to be to obstruct potential federal law changes that could permit greater employee choice in seeking representation by a union.

For all media inquiries, please contact Laura Rodriguez.

Copyright 2009 MALDEF — Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund