Four Newspapers Release Recommendations for Health Care-Related Measures on November Ballot
The Contra Costa Times, the Orange County Register, the Sacramento Bee and the San Diego Union-Tribune have published their recommendations on how state residents should vote on several initiatives, including five related to health, that will appear on the Nov. 2 statewide ballot. Summaries appear below.
Proposition 61 is a $750 million measure that would pay for construction, expansion and equipment for children's hospitals. Including interest, the program would cost about $1.5 billion over 30 years (California Healthline, 10/22).
The Times recommends voting "yes" (Contra Costa Times, 10/26).
The Register recommends voting "no" (Orange County Register, 10/22).
The Bee recommends voting "no" (Sacramento Bee, 10/24).
The Union-Tribune recommends voting "no" (San Diego Union-Tribune, 10/26).
Proposition 63 would increase by 1% the state personal income tax on individuals whose annual incomes exceed $1 million to finance an expansion of mental health services. The measure would raise an estimated $700 million annually to care for people with severe mental illnesses (California Healthline, 10/22).
The Times recommends voting "no" (Contra Costa Times, 10/26).
The Register recommends voting "no" (Orange County Register, 10/22).
The Bee recommends voting "no" (Sacramento Bee, 10/24).
The Union-Tribune recommends voting "no" (San Diego Union-Tribune, 10/26).
Proposition 67 would add a 3% surcharge to residential telephone bills to fund hospital emergency services and training. The initiative would generate an estimated $550 million annually to fund emergency department services (California Healthline, 10/22).
The Times recommends voting "no" (Contra Costa Times, 10/26).
The Register recommends voting "no" (Orange County Register, 10/22).
The Bee recommends voting "no" (Sacramento Bee, 10/24).
The Union-Tribune recommends voting "no" (San Diego Union-Tribune, 10/26).
Proposition 71 would raise an average of $295 million annually for a decade to promote stem cell research through the issue of state bonds. The measure would provide funds for a new stem cell research center at a University of California campus, as well as grants and loans for laboratory projects at other colleges. State analysts say the measure would cost a total of $6 billion, including interest (California Healthline, 10/22).
The Times recommends voting "yes" (Contra Costa Times, 10/26).
The Register recommends voting "no" (Orange County Register, 10/22).
The Bee recommends voting "no" (Sacramento Bee, 10/24).
The Union-Tribune recommends voting "no" (San Diego Union-Tribune, 10/26).
Proposition 72 allows state residents to vote "yes" to uphold or "no" to repeal SB 2, a state law scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2006, that will require some employers to provide health insurance to workers or pay into a state fund to provide such coverage (California Healthline, 10/22).
The Times recommends voting "no" (Contra Costa Times, 10/26).
The Register recommends voting "no" (Orange County Register, 10/22).
The Bee recommends voting "no" (Sacramento Bee, 10/24).
The Union-Tribune recommends voting "no" (San Diego Union-Tribune, 10/26).
KPCC's "Talk of the City" on Monday included a discussion of Proposition 67 with Dan Higgins, president of the Los Angeles County Medical Association, and Ace Smith, campaign manager for No on Proposition 67 (Felde, "Talk of the City," KPCC, 10/25). The complete segment is available online in RealPlayer.
Additional information on propositions 61, 63, 67, 71 and 72 is available online.