Newspapers Print Recommendations for Special Election Ballot Measures
Seven California newspapers recently published summaries of their endorsements for Tuesday's special election ballot, including for the three health-related measures. Summaries appear below.
Proposition 73 would amend the state constitution to require health care providers to inform a parent or guardian 48 hours before performing an abortion on an unmarried minor. Under the measure, a girl could seek a judicial bypass and would receive no-cost legal counsel, a confidential hearing and a ruling within three days on whether she could receive an abortion without notifying her parents (California Healthline [1], 11/7).
The Contra Costa Times recommends a 'no' vote (Contra Costa Times, 11/8).
The Long Beach Press-Telegram recommends a 'yes' vote (Long Beach Press-Telegram, 11/8).
The Los Angeles Times recommends a 'no' vote (Los Angeles Times, 11/8).
The Riverside Press-Enterprise recommends a 'no' vote (Riverside Press-Enterprise, 11/6).
The Sacramento Bee recommends a 'no' vote (Sacramento Bee, 11/8).
The San Francisco Chronicle recommends a 'no' vote (San Francisco Chronicle, 11/8).
The Ventura County Star recommends a 'no' vote (Ventura County Star, 11/8).
Proposition 78 would establish a voluntary prescription drug discount plan for state residents whose annual incomes do not exceed 300% of the federal poverty level. The measure is supported by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (California Healthline [2], 11/7).
The Contra Costa Times recommends a 'no' vote (Contra Costa Times, 11/8).
The Press-Telegram recommends a 'no' vote (Long Beach Press-Telegram, 11/8).
The Los Angeles Times recommends a 'no' vote (Los Angeles Times, 11/8).
The Press-Enterprise recommends a 'no' vote (Riverside Press-Enterprise, 11/6).
The Bee recommends a 'no' vote (Sacramento Bee, 11/8).
The Chronicle recommends a 'no' vote (San Francisco Chronicle, 11/8).
The Star recommends a 'no' vote (Ventura County Star, 11/8).
Proposition 79, a measure supported by Health Access California and a coalition of labor groups, would require drug makers to participate in a prescription drug discount program or face exclusion from the Medi-Cal formulary in some cases. To qualify, state residents' annual incomes could not exceed 400% of the federal poverty level. State residents who spend more than 5% of their annual income on health care also would be eligible to participate in Proposition 79's drug discount program. In addition, people could sue a pharmaceutical company if they believe it is participating in illegal pricing practices (California Healthline [2], 11/7).
The Contra Costa Times recommends a 'no' vote (Contra Costa Times, 11/8).
The Press-Telegram recommends a 'no' vote (Long Beach Press-Telegram, 11/8).
The Los Angeles Times recommends a 'no' vote (Los Angeles Times, 11/8).
The Press-Enterprise recommends a 'no' vote (Riverside Press-Enterprise, 11/6).
The Bee recommends a 'no' vote (Sacramento Bee, 11/8).
The Chronicle recommends a 'yes' vote (San Francisco Chronicle, 11/8).
The Ventura County Star recommends a 'no' vote (Ventura County Star, 11/8).
Additional information on Propositions 73, 78 and 79 is available online.