Propositions

219

Would require statewide and local ballot measures to apply in all of a jurisdiction, regardless of how parts of that jurisdiction voted.

* For: State Sen. John R. Lewis (R-Orange); Matthew E. Webb, Western Valleys Group of Riverside County

* Against: No opposing ballot argument submitted. Assemblywoman Diane Martinez (D-Monterey Park) and 14 other Assembly Democrats and one state senator voted against the proposal in the Legislature.

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220

Would join the state’s Municipal Courts to the Superior Court system in counties where a majority of judges vote their approval. Would raise the $98,000-per-year salary of Municipal Court judges to the Superior Court judge level of $107,000.

* For: State Sen. Bill Lockyer (D-Hayward), a candidate for California attorney general; Joel Fox, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn.; Charles Byrd, president of the California State Sheriffs Assn.; California Supreme Court Justice Marvin Baxter; James Fox, San Mateo County district attorney; Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa (D-Los Angeles)

* Against: Mike Reynolds, author of the three-strikes sentencing law; Lewis K. Uhler, president, National Tax Limitation Committee; Edward Jagels, Kern County district attorney

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221

Would create new performance oversight panel for court referees and court commissioners, who preside over a variety of cases.

* For: State Sen. Tim Leslie (R-Carnelian Bay); Kate Killeen, president, Women Prosecutors of California; George Kennedy, president, California District Attorneys Assn.

* Against: No opposing ballot argument submitted. California Court Commissioners Assn. raised objections when the proposal was before the Legislature.

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222

Would impose life sentences without parole on people convicted of second-degree murder of law enforcement officers. Also would end time off for good behavior or work credits for convicted murderers.

* For: Gov. Pete Wilson; Assemblyman Rod Pacheco (R-Riverside); state Sen. John R. Lewis (R-Orange)

* Against: No opposing ballot argument submitted. California Attorneys for Criminal Justice is opposed.

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223

Would prohibit school districts from spending more than 5% of their annual funds on central administrative costs. The remaining money, at least 95% of total funds, would have to be spent on direct services to students, school site employees and school facilities. Would require the State Board of Education to fine districts that don’t comply about $175 per student per year.

* For: Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan; United Teachers-Los Angeles; U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein

* Against: State PTA; Assn. of California School Administrators; California School Boards Assn.

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224

Would abolish no-bid private contracting by state and local governments on contracts of more than $50,000 used in pre-construction engineering, design and environmental impact reporting work. Would create a competitive bidding system between private contractors and state employees, basing contract awards on “the lowest cost to taxpayers” as judged by the state controller’s office.

* For: Professional Engineers in California Government; California Correctional Peace Officers Assn.; Hispanic Contractors Assn.; Congress of California Seniors

* Against: American Consulting Engineers Council; California Chamber of Commerce; California Council of American Institute of Architects; League of California Cities; California School Boards Assn.; California Federation of Labor; AFL-CIO; California Teachers Assn.

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225

Would urge Congress to pursue amending the U.S. Constitution to allow limits for congressional terms. Would require candidates for legislative office to declare support for such limits or be identified publicly for their opposition or refusal to take a stand.

* For: Sally Reed Impastato, board member, U.S. Term Limits. But she and her pro-term-limits group are advising voters that the measure would not survive court challenges.

* Against: Mark Whisler, president, Sacramento City Taxpayers Rights League

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226

Would require employers and labor unions to obtain a worker’s permission each year before withholding wages or union dues for political purposes.

* For: Gov. Pete Wilson; Americans for Tax Reform; Orange County savings and loan heir Howard Ahmanson

* Against: California Teachers Assn. and other public employee unions; AFL-CIO; American Cancer Society; American Heart Assn.

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227

Would end most bilingual programs in California public schools. Would require students with limited English ability to be taught in special classes in which the teacher speaks English nearly all of the time. After a year in these special classes, most students would be moved to regular classes.

* For: Businessman Ron K. Unz; schoolteachers Jaime Escalante and Gloria Matta Tuchman

* Against: California Teachers Assn.; state PTA; President Clinton

Source: Los Angeles Times news files and staff

Research: TRACY THOMAS / Los Angeles Times