Propositions You Can Refuse: 1C

April 26, 2009

Maven would like to remind you that on Tuesday, May 19th there will be a special election where there will be 6 state-wide propositions on the ballot. I am picking 1C first. Just a heads up, Marinwood Voters are not voting at the Marinwood Community Center, but the Lucas Valley Community Center at 1201 Idylberry Rd.

California propositions are infamous in the way they can obfuscate the issues. The legislature couldn’t come up with a solution so they put these six propositions on the ballot they know the grassroots of both sides of the political spectrum will not accept. The real solution is to vote against all six, elect more non-republicans to state office, and change the 2/3 vote requirement to raise taxes.

LOTTERY MODERNIZATION ACT.

* Allows the state lottery to be modernized to improve its performance with increased payouts, improved marketing, and effective management.
* Requires the state to maintain ownership of the lottery and authorizes additional accountability measures.
* Protects funding levels for schools currently provided by lottery revenues.
* Increased lottery revenues will be used to address current budget deficit and reduce the need for additional tax increases and cuts to state programs.

Summary of Legislative Analyst’s Estimate of Net State and Local Government Fiscal Impact:

* Impact on 2009–10 State Budget: Allows $5 billion of borrowing from future lottery profits to help balance the 2009–10 state budget.
* Impact on Future State Budgets: Debt-service payments on the lottery borrowing and higher payments to education would likely make it more difficult to balance future state budgets. This impact would be lessened by potentially higher lottery profits. Additional lottery borrowing would be allowed.

Maven remembers when this Lottery was to be dedicated to spending for education as Prop 13 siphoned monies away from our schools. We have had this lottery for 24 years and why is it that we need to spend money to improve the way they do things or have additional oversight, what has the state done these 24 years? Shouldn’t we be accomplishing that with the existing funds and staffing?

What bothers me is that this would allow the state to sell bonds and pay those bonds from the Lottery Fund to deal with the huge debt. This all because Californians and legislators think that they can run this State for free and without asking for taxes. We need to tax ourselves to pay our obligations and leave the Lottery alone to help our schools that are under siege despite the taxpayers voting to mandate a certain level of spending.

Maven remembers in the past 24 years warnings that this Lottery despite all the promises to the contrary will divert funds for the general fund. It seems like they may have been right.

Pmcohen twitters from the convention, “Meaningless support for 1B at #CDP09 next big issue is 1C. Leno makes impassioned plea for yes on 1C. Where will you cut 5 Billion? Good Question” According to Andrew Davey’s twitter, “Sen. Mark Leno using “we need $5B”, Norquist scare tactics for 1C”

Supporters say that we face a 42 billion, and we can get 5 billion from the lottery. It is a tough question, but you can’t solve this problem with a bad solution. The correct this situation is to raise taxes on those who can afford it. We should have never given back those taxes from the surplus. It was a huge mistake.

That is why Maven will vote NO on 1C and the rest of the propositions.