Confused? Here are the Propositions in a Nutshell

By Political Correspondent Senior Blogger Holden Hartle

I’ve seen several ads throughout my life saying “Vote yes on Prop 5” or “Vote no on Prop 11.” But what is the “prop” I’m voting for? I know the majority of us can’t vote this midterm, but it’s nice to know what’s on the ballot and what may happen to our state, or even our country. Also, there is some terminology that was confusing to me, such as a bond is like another word for debt. Below are the propositions that will be on the 2018 midterm ballot.

1. Authorizes bonds to fund specified housing assistance programs. This helps veterans, farmers, and homeless people in general.
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     Proponents argue that Prop 1 gives housing to those who can’t afford to buy housing on their own. And, what’s more, proponents say, Prop 1 would not raise taxes.

   • Opponents argue that this is on the ballot because there is such an influx of people coming into California, and to solve this problem requires a much larger solution.  
2. Authorizes bonds to fund existing housing programs for individuals with mental illnesses. The state will use $140 million per year in mental health funds in order to pay back the $2 billion in bonds.
   • Proponents argue that Prop 2 doesn’t raise taxes. It will also provide help to those who previously couldn’t get help for their mental illnesses.
   • Opponents argue that the actual logistics of how the project will be funded would put many more people onto the streets.
3. Authorizes almost 9 billion in bonds to fund projects for water supply and quality, watershed, fish, wildlife, water conveyance, and groundwater sustainability and storage.
   • Proponents argue that there will be more clean water in California, fixing of unsafe dams, and drought protection.
   • Opponents argue that the bonds go to private organizations and none of it directly goes to creating clean water.
4. Authorizes $1.5 billion in bonds to fund construction for better children’s hospitals.
   • Proponents argue that Prop 5 will provide the latest technology for children battling all sorts of diseases.
   • Opponents argue that we are giving these bonds away with interest and that we need to find a better way to get children better care.
5. Okay. So I’m gonna be completely honest with you, I’m not sure what Prop 5 is about. It has something to do with senior citizens paying property taxes and how this takes away from funding in other areas.
6. Eliminates certain road repair and transportation funding and requires certain fuel taxes and vehicle fees to be approved by Congress.
   • Proponents argue that Prop 6 will lower gas prices, repealing the last tax instituted via the state legislature. Do you really need anything else?
   • Opponents argue that if you vote yes, roads and bridges will continue to deteriorate, clean-air laws will stagnate, and it is possible that more accidents will happen due to deteriorating roads and freeways.
7. Conforms California Daylight Saving Time to federal law, and it allows state legislature to request a change to Daylight Saving Time Period.
   • Proponents argue that the act of going through a time change is detrimental to the human body, and that fewer injuries and deaths will happen if you were to vote yes.
   • Opponents argue that people will go to school/work in the dark. That’s it? Really?
8. Regulates the amounts clinics charge for kidney dialysis treatment.
   • Proponents argue that companies are making bank from the costs of dialysis treatment, but they don’t invest in basic needs like sanitation. Voting “Yes” means costs will be regulated.
   • Opponents argue that Prop 8 will put many clinics out of business, which means that fewer people will get treatment, which means that more people will die.
9. Prop 9 was taken off of the ballot by the Supreme Court, but basically it said that California would be split up into three different states.
10. Expands local governments’ authority to place regulations on rent control of residential properties.
    • Proponents argue that Prop 10 will make rent increases more fair. Voting “Yes” will help the tenants.
    • Opponents argue that Prop 10 will make the housing situation worse. It also gives the government access to place fees on top of your rent.
11. Keeps the past regulations of private emergency ambulance employees on call during work breaks so as to respond to emergencies.
    • Proponents argue that Prop 11 will continue saving lives and that seconds matter in a life and death situation. Therefore, we should keep the process in place.
    • Opponents argue that this could mean EMT’s are less likely to be available during emergency situations, which could lead to less immediate emergency care.
12. Establishes new standards for confinement of certain farm animals as well as bans the sale of non-complying farmers’ products.
    • Proponents argue that the current way we treat animals is inhumane and that establishing minimum requirements would be a step in eliminating this cruelty.
    • Opponents argue that Prop 12 would not eliminate cruelty, as animals, such as hens, could be enclosed in as little as a one-square-foot cages.

If you would like to know more about any of these propositions, go to http://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/propositions/

Editor: Bella Bier