Supporters of Budget-Related Measures Kick Off Radio Ad Campaign
The campaign supporting budget-related ballot measures on the May 19 special election ballot launched a radio ad campaign this week, asserting that approving the measures will "protect against even higher taxes -- and prevent more cuts to schools, public safety, health care and infrastructure," the Sacramento Bee's "CapitolAlert" reports (Goldmacher, "CapitolAlert," Sacramento Bee, 4/8).
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) and his supporters are responsible for the ad (Myers, "Capital Notes," KQED, 4/7).
The measures are on the ballot as part of the budget Schwarzenegger signed in February that uses tax increases, spending cuts and borrowing to cover California's projected budget deficit through fiscal year 2009-2010.
Two of the measures -- propositions 1D and 1E -- would deal specifically with health care.
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.Â
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.
Other ballot measures would implement a state spending cap and borrow against future lottery revenue (California Healthline, 4/6). 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.