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June 8 ballot propositions

Proposition 14: Change to primaries

This measure would allow people to vote for any state or congressional candidate in the primary elections, regardless of party. The two candidates with the most votes would run against each other in November.

Support

“Prop. 14 will push our elected officials to begin working together for the common good,” says a California Chamber of Commerce statement. Prop. 14 would

• Put more moderate politicians in office
• Reduce budget stalemates
• Cut down on runoff elections. 

Supporters: California Chamber of Commerce, Latin Business Association, AARP

Contact: Californians for an Open Primary, www.yeson14openprimary.com

Opposition

“[Prop. 14] would cost more to implement—money that could be better spent on children’s programs,” says Dave Low of the California School Employees Association. Prop. 14 would

• Increase the cost of campaigns, because candidates would have to reach out to all voters during the primaries
• Make it more difficult for third-party candidates to get elected
• Not have an effect on getting more moderate politicians in office.

Opponents: California School Employees Association, California State Firefighters, United Nurses Association

Contact: California School Employees Union, 916-329-3621

Proposition 17: Auto insurance

This measure would allow companies to offer auto insurance discounts to new customers who have continuously maintained their insurance coverage. Currently, customers lose this discount if they switch insurance companies.

Support

“Prop. 17 would make [a current] discount portable [when] drivers switch insurance companies. Families could save up to $250,” says Kathy Fairbanks of the Yes on 17 campaign. Prop. 17 would

• Allow insurers to offer an additional discount
• Lower insurance rates
• Continue to base auto insurance rates primarily on drivers’ safety record, how many miles they drive a year, and driving experience, as required by current law.

Supporters: Mercury Insurance, California Chamber of Commerce, California Taxpayer Protection Committee

Contact: Californians for Fair Auto Insurance Rates, www.cal-fair.org

Opposition

“If a family is struggling and misses a single payment, [their auto insurance rates could go up] 40-220%. Families would be choosing between really basic needs for their kids and having a car,” says Naomi Seligman of Consumer Watchdog.  Prop. 17 would

• Charge customers more when they have a gap in their coverage.
• Undermine current law, which does not allow companies to set rates based on whether a customer had a prior policy.

Opponents: Consumer Watchdog, Consumer Federation of California, Vote Vets

Contact: Stop the Surcharge, www.stopprop17.org

For more election info:

• California Easy Voter Guide, www.easyvoter.org
• Smart Voter, from the California League of Women Voters, www.smartvoter.org

Call to action on early care and education

Parents, teachers, and providers are strongly encouraged to give input on plans for a statewide early care and education quality rating system. The ELQIS Advisory Committee invites you to share your ideas about how this system could help parents find quality care and help teachers and providers strengthen their programs.

Attend upcoming meetings: June 16 in Woodland, San Diego, and Fresno; August 3 in Woodland, LA, and Madera.

For more information, contact Roberta Peck, 916-322-4269, rpeck@cde.ca.gov, or visit www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/sb1629calendar.asp

Protect your family from the flu

The Centers for Disease Control warn that people are still at risk from H1N1 flu (swine flu). Children under five are at higher risk for complications. The CDC recommends that people get a flu vaccine, prevent the flu from spreading with good hygiene, and stay home when they are sick.

For more information in multiple languages, see http://www.flu.gov/

The Governor’s budget would cut kids programs

The state faces a $20 billion gap. The governor’s budget proposes to close the gap with a combination of deep cuts to spending, more federal aid, and extending some tax increases.

The budget presents two scenarios. If the state doesn’t get $6.9 billion more in federal funds, the budget proposes to eliminate CalWORKs, Healthy Families, and Prop 63 funded mental health programs and also raise the income requirements for people to qualify for Medi-Cal.

If the state gets additional federal funds, below are some of the key proposed cuts (many were rejected by the legislature in previous years).

Child care and development

• Provide CalWORKs child care funds to “only the neediest families” when they leave welfare (Stage 3), rather than all former CalWORKs families who qualify
  
  
• Reduce reimbursement rates for early care and education programs in the alternative payment program and CalWORKs Stage 2 and 3.
  
  

Health

• Divert First 5 funds to the Developmental and Social Services Departments (voters rejected last year’s ballot measure).
  
  
• Limit Medi-Cal services and increase copayments and/or premiums
  
  
• Eliminate Medi-Cal for some immigrants
  
  
• Limit Healthy Families to children in families with incomes through 200% of the federal poverty level —experts predict 200,000 children would lose health coverage
  
  
• Double some Healthy Families premiums and eliminate vision benefits.
  
  
• Eliminate the California Food Assistance Program.
  
  

CalWORKs

• Reduce grants by 15.7%
  
  
• Eliminate CalWORKs benefits for legal immigrants in the US less than five years.
  
  

Schools

• Reduce state funding (Prop 98) by $892 million in 2009-10 and $1.54 billion in 2010-11.
  
  
• Change statutes so that districts can lay off, assign, and rehire teachers regardless of seniority.
  
  

Sources: California Budget Project, 100% Campaign, Health Access, CDPI

Advocacy days: Make your voice heard!

April 20: ENACT: Nutrition and activity lobby day. California Food Policy Advocates, 510-433-1122, ext 103, www.cfpa.net/ENACT2010

April 26 & 27: Budget Action Days. California Partnership,
213-385-8010, www.californiapartnership.org (see Campaign fights proposed state budget cuts)

May 12: Stand for Children Day. Parent Voices, 415-882-0234 (see Parents and ECE teachers campaign for child care funding)

May 17-18: California Afterschool Challenge. CalSAC, 415-957-9775, www.calsac.org

May 17: Immigrant Day. California Immigrant Policy Center, 916-448-6762, www.caimmigrant.org

May 19: Hunger Action Day. California Hunger Action Coalition, 213-388-8228, www.hungeraction.net

June 15: Early Learning Advocacy Day. Preschool California, 510-271-0075, www.preschoolcalifornia.org and California Association for the Education of Young Children, 916-486-7750, www.caeyc.org

Support early learning in the federal budget

Action: Preschool California is asking people to call on Congress to support President Obama’s early childhood budget proposals.

Background: President Obama’s FY 2011 budget proposal builds on his commitment to a comprehensive Zero to Five plan. It includes an additional $989 million for Head Start and Early Head Start, an additional $1.6 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, support for Early Learning Challenge Fund legislation ($8.9 billion over 10 years), and $210 million for Promise Neighborhoods.

Contact Congress by sending a letter through Preschool California’s online action center, www.preschoolcalifornia.org (click on “Take action on the 2011 budget”)