Kersten Communications

The California Secretary of State has qualified five ballot measures for the state’s June 2010 ballot.  The water bond will appear on the November 2010 ballot, along with other initiatives which are likely to qualify in the coming months.  Here is a brief summary of the June 2010 measures:

2/3 Vote of Electorate to Switch from Private Investor-Owned Utility to Public Provider:  PG&E sponsored this initiative to try to prevent local efforts to switch from private investor-owned utilities, such as PG&E, to public providers which may be a better deal for taxpayers.   Specifically, the measure requires local governments to obtain the approval of 2/3 of voters before providing electricity to new customers or expanding such service to new territories if any public funds or bonds are involved.  The Sacramento Bee editorial board called the measure a “power grab” that would “protect the investor-owned utility from dissatisfied customers angry about bad service and high costs.”  “In recent years PG&E has spent tens of millions of dollars to fend off efforts by ratepayers in San Joaquin, San Francisco, Marin and Yolo counties who’ve tried to form their own public utilities or annex themselves to public power agencies…the constitutional amendment makes it virtually impossible for any jurisdiction to escape the PG&E monopoly,” states the Bee editorial which is available by clicking here.  To view the text of the measure click here.   

Allows Auto Insurance Companies to Offer Discounts for Continuity of Coverage:  This initiative is sponsored by Mercury Insurance.  The measure changes current law to permit insurance companies to offer a discount to drivers who have continuously maintained their auto insurance coverage and establishes that lapses in coverage due to nonpayment of premiums may prevent a driver from qualifying for the discount.  The initiative is likely to face some opposition.  Consumer Watchdog.org has criticized the measure for trying to “trick voters into paying higher auto insurance premiums.”  The groups says the measure would “surcharge” drivers who have had a lapse in car insurance coverage for virtually any reason during the past five years, including people such as soldiers who did not need insurance.  “The measure would gut a provision of the 1988 insurance reform measure Prop. 103, which prohibits companies from raising rates on people because they did not have auto insurance in the past,” states a press release by the Campaign for Consumer Rights.  To visit the website against the measure click here:  www.stopthesurcharge.org.  To view the text of the measure click here.     

Open Primaries:  This measure was requested by Senator Abel Maldonado (R) as a condition of gaining his vote to break the 2009 impasse over the state budget.  The measure, SCA 4 (Maldonado, 2009), proposes an amendment to the state constitution to establish primary elections in which voters may vote for any state or congressional candidate regardless of party registration.  The two candidates receiving the most votes, regardless of party affiliation would advance to the general election.  To view the floor analysis for the measure click here.  To view the language of the measure click here.    

Pilot Program for Public Financing of Political Campaigns:  This measure was placed on the ballot by the California Legislature on a party line vote in 2008 with the passage of AB 583 (Hancock).  The Governor signed the measure.  The measure would create a pilot project whereby candidates for Secretary of State will be eligible to receive public campaign funds for the 2014 and 2018 elections if they agree not to accept most private contributions and if they collect a specified number of $5 contributions.   To view the supporters’ website for the measure click here.  To view the floor analysis of the measure click here.  To view the language of the measure click here.  

Technical, Non-Controversial Property-Tax Exclusion for New Construction Related to Seismic Retrofitting:  This measure was placed on the ballot with unanimous support of the California Legislature with the passage of SCA 4 (Ashburn, 2008).  The measure revises the 15-year property tax exclusion for seismic safety improvements made to unreinforced masonry buildings.  To view the language of the measure click here.     

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