Two ballot measures will make the fall ballot campaign in the Golden State especially intense. One is a set of tax increases (Proposition 30) being pushed by Governor Jerry Brown and the state's main public sector unions. If it passes, it will help stave off deep cuts and reduce the pressure to undertake more significant reform. Working in the opposite direction is a measure (Proposition 32) that would prohibit direct donations to candidates from unions and corporations and, more significantly for the public employee unions, prohibit the use of union dues for political activism without members' explicit consent. Obviously, the unions are dead set against this initiative.
Measures to restrict the use of union dues for political purposes have been on the ballot in California twice before in 1998 (Prop. 226) and 2005 (Prop. 75). Both times they were defeated by nearly identical margins--roughly 47% in favor to 53% opposed. Will this time be different? California has been in a near permanent fiscal crisis for the last decade. And Wisconsin has made these issues much more familiar to voters than they were in the past. Finally, some liberal groups have complained that adding the corporate element to the measure will deceptively increase support for the measure because it appears to attack all special interests. Maybe it will. Dan Walters points to some of the questions voters will need to consider.
As of early July, however, unions and other opponents of the measure have out-raised supporters two to one. Expect that pattern to continue into the fall.
As of early July, however, unions and other opponents of the measure have out-raised supporters two to one. Expect that pattern to continue into the fall.
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