“Follow the hips, not the lips” is a basketball expression that comes to mind when I read the Propositions on the California ballot for the Mid-Term elections.
You see, in basketball the player with the ball frequently tries to use his head (lips) to make what is called a “head fake” to make the defensive player think the play is going one way while the hips go in a different direction.
If one reads the full texts of the Propositions – the “hips” (the original intent) – one realizes that though they are written by the creators who may have one agenda, the titles and summaries – the “lips” – are written by the California Attorney General (AG) Rob Bonta and his team, who apparently have a different agenda.
Consider, for example, that the printed version for Proposition 1 in the California General Election Guide is six pages long, while the “Quick Reference Guide” summary is 41 words. On the ballot, the summary is 29 words and the Fiscal Impact is 19 words.
Going from six printed 8 1/2 x 11 pages to 41 or 29 words requires making judgments that may well reflect the political leanings of the AG.
AG Bonta is on the ballot a Democrat running for re-election, and his wife Mia Bonta (also a Democrat) is running for re-election to the California Assembly.
It would take an almost inhuman effort for the AG to not either inadvertently, or otherwise, have his political beliefs influence his summaries.
Bonds
Typically vague objectives, such as “help the homeless” are used when pleading for passage of bond issues. Such objectives are frequently “head fakes,” and always meaningless, since passage permits the state government to use the funds any way it pleases; basically it is a “blank check.” For example, the “high-speed” train from L.A. to San Francisco.
The “bonds” the Propositions authorize are issued by the state government as collateral for the money it will borrow—since it has no money— and immediately spend while committing taxpayers to repay it.
A “General Obligation (GO) bond” is type of bond issued by a state or local government that does not generate direct revenue but promises to pay the loan by using some combination of property, income, and/or sales tax that you pay.
Once the state government has the money, there is no audit trail, as it is distributed internally and through friendly nonprofits.
Propositions
Proposition 1 authorizes $11.25 million in state General Obligation bonds for housing affordability programs yada, yada, yada. Fiscal impact is the increased state cost of $500-600 million annually for about 25 years.
“Head fakes” include a repayment period of “about” 25 years. Ever had a loan for “about” some period of time?
Annual payments will amount to $500-600 million per year for “about” 25 years. For $500 million a year, the total repayment will be $12.5 billion, but for $600 million a year ,the total will be $15 billion. Not only is the difference of $2.5 billion significant, but Proposition 1 only lists the bond at $11.25 billion.
Hmmm, is it $12.5 billion or $15 billion? And who gets the excess over the $11.25 billion proposed bond?
Vote NO on Proposition 1
Proposition 2
This one states that the money will be used to increase the “Rainy Day” fund that was approved in 2014, and is slotted to be used for education, health care, public safety, and other “essential services” during economic downturns.
Hmmm, a “head fake” of using “essential services” to persuade you to give them an indefinite amount of money to spend as they please.
Vote NO on Prop 2.
Proposition 3
Prop 3 seeks approval to make previously approved funding on schools and health care permanent.
Hmmm, why not wait to see if the temporary spending does any good before spending another $5 to 15 billion?
Vote NO on Prop 3.
Proposition 4
Prop 4, if passed, repeals a “prohibition” against public funding of election campaigns.
Hmmm, eliminating the double negatives results in you agreeing to pay for the campaigns of current office holders.
The listed cost is a “few hundred thousand dollars a year” to fund the Fair Political Practices Commission, while the real cost is your freedom of choice.
Vote NO on Prop 4.
Proposition 5
The objective here is if a politician is recalled other politicians will be granted the power to appoint a successor instead of voters electing one.
Vote No on Prop 5.
Proposition 37
This will set aside $25 billion in loans to eligible buyers – who must be “California residents” but need not be U.S. citizens – for a discounted mortgage.
Hmmm, borrow $25 billion to be repaid via mortgage payments from those who cannot afford a mortgage. Sounds “noble” until they default on the mortgages, which is what crashed the financial markets in 2008-2009.
Vote NO on Prop 37.
Proposition 38
Authorizes the state to issue $8.4 billion in GO bonds to “give” to an unidentified nonprofit medical research institute and in research grants to others.
Hmmm, borrow $8.4 billion and repay an “estimated” $500-600 million a year for 20 years for an “estimated” payment of $10- 12 billion to fund unaudited organizations?
Vote NO on Prop 38.
Proposition 39
Prohibits those without a government-issued ID indicating they are U.S. citizens from voting.
Hmmm, in plain English “Only those who can prove they are U.S. citizens can vote in U.S. elections.”
Vote YES on Prop 39.
Proposition 40
Proposes a one-time tax to resolve an ongoing expense by taxing billionaires on their net worth, including unrealized capital gains.
Hmmm, you can tell desperation when the AG uses the two old standbys to incite negative emotions: “billionaires” and “Trump’s ‘Ugly Big Bill.’”
Vote No on Prop 40.
Propositions 41, 42 and 43
Passage of these would eliminate the potential damage of Prop 40.
Vote YES on Props 41, 42, and 43.
Proposition 44
Increases healthcare costs “in the low tens of millions of dollars per year.”
Hmmm, increases healthcare costs as California searches for ways to fund the already too high costs?
Vote NO on Prop 44.
Proposition 45
Has costs “potentially exceeding $100 million “annually” to reduce the environmental review for “certain projects.”
Hmmm, why not amend the legislation rather than provide politicians the power to reward their friends?
However, half a loaf is better than no loaf.
Vote YES on Prop 45.
Conclusion
Don’t approve the “head fakes.”
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Ballots are out. Only a few day remain until the Nov 3 election.
If you plan to vote early, start with California Current’s proposition guide and Statewide Candidate recommendations—written from the only point of view that actually pays the bill: the overworked, under-appreciated California taxpayer.
We don’t hand you a cheat sheet and walk away. Every recommendation is backed by clear-headed research. Click the link, read the case, then mark your ballot with your eyes open.
NO on 1. The Con Job
NO on 2. Supersizing California’s Slush Fund
NO on 3. The Forever Tax
NO on 4. Your Money, Their Campaigns
NO on 5. Recall Revenge
NO on 37. Robin Hood in Reverse
NO on 38. Pork Barrel Science
YES on 39. Trust, but Verify
NO on 40. Tax Billionaires Today, Tax Everybody Tomorrow
YES on 41. Sergey’s Silver Bullets
YES on 42. Sergey’s Silver Bullets
YES on 43. Stop Getting Steamrolled by Special Taxes
NO on 44. Bleeding Health Clinics Dry
YES on 45. Pondering Prop 45
Note: Props 41 and 42 share one article.
Governor: Steve Hilton
Lieutenant Governor: Gloria Romero
Secretary of State: Donald P. (Don) Wagner
Controller: Herb Morgan
Treasurer: Jennifer Hawks
Attorney General: Michael Gates
Insurance Commissioner: no good choice, no endorsement
State Superintendent of Public Instruction: Sonja Shaw
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Need a little help with the 20 judicial retention choices for the Second Appellate District (Los Angeles, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara Counties)? Click here.
Why has Rob Bonta amassed a legal war chest of $500k? Oh that’s right, him and his wife Mia, are up to their necks in grift and corruption. Prime example of the cesspool Sacramento has become.
https://www.kcra.com/article/california-attorney-general-rob-bonta-and-his-wife-assemblymember-mia-bonta-refuse-to-answer-questions-conflict-of-interest-issue/42957882
https://youtu.be/YDvHcTpYaPU?si=bsftaVmZuml35hlw
Thank you, Mr. Zepke. Head fakes have worked very well for the California left for decades because of the ignorance of an unquestioning public that arrived at voting age trained by the socialist public school education establishment. We have voted and can now only pray that somehow things might be different this time.