Interest Groups Start Taking Sides in Special Election in California

The California Nurses Association labor union and the Bay Area Council business group are the latest organizations to jump into the May 19 special election campaign, albeit on opposite sides of the debate, KQED's "Capital Notes" reports.

On Thursday, CNA leaders voted to oppose the six budget-related ballot measures, while Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's (R) campaign in favor of the measures announced the Bay Area Council's support of the measures on Monday (Myers, "Capital Notes," KQED, 3/16).

Details of Health Care-Related Measures

Proposition 1E would shift $226.7 million from mental health care programs that Proposition 63 funds to the existing Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Program for low-income children for two years. In 2004, voters approved Proposition 63, which increased the state income tax on high-income Californians to fund mental health services.

Proposition 1D would temporarily shift $608 million from First 5 programs to fund services for children, including programs for foster children and kids with developmental disabilities. First 5 was created in 1998 when voters approved Proposition 10 to increase the state tobacco tax to fund early childhood health care and education programs.

The measures were put on the ballot as part of the budget Gov. Schwarzenegger signed last month (California Healthline, 3/13).

CNA representatives said the organization would take a larger role in the opposition campaign in the coming weeks ("Capital Notes," KQED, 3/16).

Whitman Weighs In