(crossposted at dailykos, MyLeftWing and Calitics)
We have been telling you for weeks now that this fight not only is extremely important, but we have a damn good chance of losing. You want proof? Well you got it. SUSA just released their first poll of likely voters on the initiative fight and the numbers are horrible.
Proposition 73:
Parental notification for abortions.
SUSA: Yes 59% No 39% Undecided 2%
(note: the Alliance is not working on this issue)
The “Blame New Teachers Act” would raise from two year to five years the length of time until teachers are able to gain basic job protections. This gives them protection against at will firing and entitles them to a hearing before dismissal. There is no research that shows increasing the probationary period will do anything to improve teacher quality. Instead, is a deliberate attack against the teachers in retribution for fights over maintaining education funding and backing other progressive causes. For a taste of the real ageda of the people behind proposition 74, note the “McCarthy clause” – included in the grounds for dismissal is “Knowing membership by the employee in the Communist Party.”
What’s at stake: The ability to attract new teachers at a time when baby boomers are retiring and the population of California continues to grow. It is estimated that California will have to hire 100,000 new teachers in the next decade.
SUSA: Yes 55% No 44% Undecided 2%
The “Paycheck Deception Act” would require public employee unions to receive written permission every single year from their members authorizing using their dues money for political activities. It unfairly targets teachers, nurses, firefighters, police and other public employees with restrictions that don’t apply to other groups or corporations, which regularly spend shareholder money on politics without permission. Prop. 75 is a deliberate attack on public employees’ ability to oppose the Governor’s agenda, including cutes to education and health care.
Their tactics have been to create a “phenomenon of anger” towards the unions. The major sponsor Lew Ulher is an unabashed McCarthyite, former leader of the right-wing extremist John Birch Society and current head of the National Tax Limitation Committee.
What’s at stake: Funding for progressives and their causes. This initiative would eliminate a major source of funding for traditionally Democratic goals like education funding, benefits for those who die in the line of duty, retirement benefits and heath care. With union money out of the picture, Norquist inspired Republicans will have a much easier time getting their extremist agenda passed. If this thing is approved, expect to see it popping up in other states across the country.
SUSA: Yes 60% No 37% Undecided 3%
The “Cuts School Funding Act” would devastate our public schools and other vital services, cutting school funding by over $4 billion every year – $600 per student, leading to more overcrowded classrooms, teacher layoffs, and fewer textbooks and classroom materials. Our schools lost two billion dollars when Governor Schwarzenegger broke his promise to repay the money he took from education, and if this initiative passes, the Governor will never have to repay that money to our schools. It also overturns the voter-approved Proposition 98, eliminating the minimum funding guarantee for education. It also cuts funding for local government — cutting police and firefighters, as well as local health care services that protect children and the elderly. This initiative hurts our most vulnerable populations including the sick, the elderly and the young.
What’s at stake: All of the above, plus under this initiative Governor could declare a “fiscal emergency” and cut funding for vital services like education, health care, fire and police without approval from anyone else.
SUSA: Yes 58% No 38% Undecided 6%
Proposition 77, unlike Ohio is a complicated, ineffectual attempt to reform the redistricting process and is opposed by respected government reformers and a broad coalition of citizens’ groups. It hands over the redistricting reins to a panel of three retired judges who are picked by legislators. The judges are explicitly prohibited from including any consideration of “communities of interest” while redistricting. This essentially eliminates any future challenges by community and minority groups seeking to retain voting power for their communities. There is a right way to create an independent redistrict method and a wrong one. Just because they call it reform does not make it so.
What’s at stake: Potential mid-decade redistricting. The initiative gives the go-ahead to immediately create new maps with data that is 5 years old. The new maps would be enforced then sent back to the voters for approval. “If voters reject redistricting plans, the entire process starts over – new judges, new plans, more elections, and more political bickering – wasting millions of tax dollars. This could go on indefinitely… with election after election… until voters finally approve… all at taxpayer expense.”
SUSA: Yes 59% No 36% Undecided 6%
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Look, this poll is an outlier from other numbers we have seen. But this is a big wakeup call to those who have not been paying attention to this race. Enormously important issues are at stake and we could seriously lose. These initiatives will have repercussions for decades if passed and tactics used here are sure to be replicated across the country.
Stop them now. Join the Alliance for a Better California and help us defeat Arnold and his cronies.
Here is how you can help
Come over to the BetterCA community to learn more about the issues and join the discussion. The trolls have found us so there is always a battle going on. You can watch our ads, comment in the discussion forum, and print out some flyers.
Check out our Netroots page for more ideas on how to get involved.
Sound the alarm, spread the word. We need to get a buzz going about this battle. Post here, recommend our diaries and create your own. Blog on your own site, email your friends and family.
If you are in California get in touch with your local Alliance headquarters, which are located all over the state. We are walking on the weekends, calling most nights and they are always looking for more volunteers. Start thinking ahead about setting time aside for election weekend. We are going to need thousands of volunteers if we are going to win.