California voters overwhelmingly passed California Chamber of Commerce-supported Proposition 40, the referendum on the Senate district maps drawn by the Citizens Redistricting Commission. Voters also rejected Proposition 37, the flawed food labeling mandate, and the Munger tax initiative, Proposition 38.

Proposition 40

California voters have voted three times in the last four years to have district maps drawn by an independent commission, not the politicians. CalChamber President and CEO Allan Zaremberg signed the ballot arguments in support of Proposition 40 in August 2012.

The CalChamber has long believed that fair redistricting is the key to meaningful political reform. This is why the CalChamber co-chaired the campaign in support of Proposition 11, the 2008 initiative to allow the citizens of California—rather than the legislators—to draw political districts, thereby eliminating the inherent conflict of interest in the system.

Proposition 40 overwhelmingly passed with 71% support.

The June 2012 primary election was the first to reflect the redrawing of districts that will be in place through 2020. The June primary also was the first to implement CalChamber-supported and voter-approved Proposition 14, the top two open primary system. Because the top two vote getters in the primary, regardless of party, advanced to the November general election, the open primary has helped create more competitive races and increased opportunities to elect more pro-jobs legislators.

At least half the seats in the 80-member Assembly are going to change hands this year due to existing term limits and competitive redistricting.

Proposition 37

With 100% of precincts reporting on Tuesday morning, Proposition 37 failed, 53% no to 47% yes.

The CalChamber Board of Directors voted in March 2012 to oppose the measure because it is a deceptive, deeply flawed food labeling scheme that would have added more government bureaucracy and taxpayer costs, created new frivolous lawsuits, and increased food costs by billions—without providing any health or safety benefits.

Biotechnology, also called genetic engineering, has been used for nearly two decades to grow disease-resistant crops.

Thousands of common foods are made with ingredients from biotech crops. Proposition 37 is full of special interest exemptions.

In announcing opposition to Proposition 37, Zaremberg said, “This measure is based on bad science and would place California at a competitive disadvantage to other states. If passed, Proposition 37 would impose specific state-only labeling requirements which confuse and unnecessarily worry consumers. Based on the breadth of the definitions in the initiative, almost every aspect of the food chain would be impacted, requiring needless labeling and sharply increasing the cost of food to consumers at a time when they can least afford it.”

Proposition 38

The CalChamber Board of Directors voted to oppose the measure because it has a heavy impact on small businesses, which are the source of most new jobs, by imposing steep, new taxes. Proposition 38 failed, 72% no to 28% yes. Zaremberg also signed the ballot arguments opposing Proposition 38.

Proposition 38 contained a $120 billion income tax hike on most Californians, locked in for the next 12 years, no matter what.

About 3.8 million California small businesses pay individual taxes on their earnings. Consequently, small businesses would have been devastated by these higher taxes—even businesses making as little as $30,000 or $40,000 a year.

Instead of creating jobs and improving the economy, Proposition 38 would have forced family businesses to cut jobs, move out of state or even close.

The measure contained no requirements to improve school performance or get rid of bad teachers. It allowed no changes, even for fraud or waste, for 12 years without another vote.

Proposition 38 allowed the politicians to keep spending, but contained nothing that required any of the funds to be used specifically for deficit reduction.

More Information

The latest election results are available at www.ss.ca.gov.

Posted on 11/13/2012