Candidates Have Not Addressed Health-Related Measures

The campaigns of Democratic gubernatorial nominee Phil Angelides and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) could be complicated by a push to state positions on 13 measures on the November statewide ballot, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports (Marelius, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7/9). The ballot includes:

Proposition 85, which would mandate parental notification before an abortion for unmarried minors except in cases of medical emergency or a court order;
Proposition 86, which would increase the state tobacco tax to fund hospitals and emergency services, nurse education, children's health insurance and other health-related programs; and
Proposition 89, which would increase state taxes on banks and corporations to help fund a publicly financed election system (San Diego Union-Tribune, 7/9). The California Nurses Association supports the measure (California Healthline, 6/27).

The parental notification measure provides the "starkest difference" between the two gubernatorial candidates, according to the Union-Tribune. Angelides has said the measure is the product of "antichoice extremists," while the Union-Tribune reports that Schwarzenegger "strongly endorsed" Proposition 73, the 2005 ballot measure upon which Proposition 85 is based. Schwarzenegger has not publicly commented on Proposition 85.

Angelides has not stated a position on the tobacco tax or public financing measures. Schwarzenegger has said he opposes new taxes but has not specifically addressed Propositions 86 or 89 (San Diego Union-Tribune, 7/9). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.