If voters approve state Proposition 90 on Nov. 7, Californians will see their local governments hamstrung, said state Sen. Jackie Speier in a 45-minute talk on Saturday in Portola Valley.
Ms. Speier spoke at the Historic Schoolhouse in one of several stops she is making around the 8th District as term limits force her into early retirement from the Senate.
To a small audience of 15, she voiced support for Proposition 87, a tax on domestic oil producers that she said is on the books in every other state and that would likely not raise gas prices because oil drilled in California is not suitable for gasoline.
As for the statewide school parcel tax, Proposition 88: “It would, in fact, equalize (K-12 funding) in a very significant way,” she said.
On California’s spending priorities, Ms. Speier noted two stark trends that she said reflect the lobbying clout of unionized prison guards: spending on prisons and higher education have gone in opposite directions.
Four years ago, 4 percent of the budget went to prisons and 7 percent to higher education, she said, whereas today the numbers are 8.9 percent and 2 percent, respectively. The recidivism rate is around 70 percent, she said.
“It’s costing us, as taxpayers, an extraordinary amount of money because there is no rehabilitation going on,” she said. “It’s a huge problem and it has to be addressed.”
Proposition 90
On its face, Proposition 90 makes sense in its claim to protect citizens from governmental abuse of eminent domain, Ms. Speier said, but then added: “What’s really insidious about this proposition is that it’s not just about real property.”The proposition would allow property owners to sue for “losses” resulting from government actions. Employers, for example, could sue the state if the Legislature were to raise the minimum wage, as could banks if the state restricted increases in ATM fees, she said.
“You can see how this proposition has the potential to really bring government to a screeching halt,” she said. “Proposition 13 is going to look like kids’ play in terms of (Proposition 90’s) impact on government.”
Howard Rich, the wealthy New York Libertarian and principal backer of Proposition 90, has “sort of made it his life’s goal to go around the country and dismantle governments,” Ms. Speier said.
“It’s understandable that a politician who’s termed out would say that about a leading backer of term limits,” said Kevin Spillane, a spokesman for the “yes” on Proposition 90 campaign.
As for claims of lawsuits over minimum wages and ATM fees, Mr. Spillane called them “greatly exaggerated” talking points. Existing regulations would be exempt from Prop 90, as would be amendments “as long as they don’t violate the initial intent” of the law, he said.
“I’m not criticizing Sen. Speier,” he added. “I just think that she’s been misinformed by the opposition campaign.”
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