Voting guide for state ballot measures

Adam Stein | October 29, 2008

Major endorsements on propositions in California and elsewhere.

I’m just passing this info along — I don’t live in California and have a passing familiarity with this year’s ballot measures. I do know know that ballot measures are often misleadingly named or confusingly written, so it’s helpful to see what the big advocacy groups are saying.

Update: Grist has the goods. Check out their round-up of arguments for and against environment-related state ballot measures across the country.

And in this case, both the Sierra Club and National Resources Defense Council are in agreement:

YES on Prop 1A: High-Speed Rail “Prop 1A would provide $9.95 billion in bond funds to spur the development of an 800-mile high-speed rail system and improve existing rail networks.”
NO on Prop 7: The Solar and Clean Energy Act of 2008. “It’s billed as a way to boost the use of clean energy in California, but Prop 7 would actually make renewable energy development more difficult in the state.”
NO on Prop 10: Calif. Alternative Fuels Initiative. “Prop 10 would use $5 billion in taxpayer-financed bonds primarily to convert vehicles to run on natural gas — diverting funds from other global warming solutions.”

I googled around a bit to see if there were ballot measures in other states that the big environmental groups are weighing in on. I didn’t come up with anything, but if you know of any important local measures, feel free to leave a comment.

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Comments

1. By Mira on October 29, 2008 7:02 PM

I live in California and agree with two out of three of your recommendations. I do wonder about making suggestions to California voters if you are not a Californian. For instance, prop 7 has proven much more complex than anyone would ever have thought. The ads saying we should vote no because of the very reason you mention above, but are actually paid for completely by PG&E and Edison, because they stand to lose. Prop 7 will change the current penalty system to make it harder for them to get away with ducking out of penalties. I will vote yes for this reason. For the earth.

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2. By Adam Stein on October 29, 2008 7:11 PM

The rest of the office is in California. I'm just the guy who writes the blog posts.

Environmental groups do seem united in their opposition to Prop 7 (even the California Solar Energy Industries Association doesn't like it), but of course everyone should draw their own conclusions. The important thing is to vote!

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3. By Mira on October 29, 2008 7:42 PM

Ohhh, that makes more sense. Yeah, many of them are telling us to vote no, but that still does not dislodge my suspicion of this opposition. The fact that these utility companies are the ones funding the opposition reminds me of the scheme to pass deregulation, when the utility companies and environmental groups told us it would be a good thing. Ever since then, I cannot believe them. You are right though, it is important for all of Californians and the country to vote! It is also great that there are so many people this election who are really making an effort to do so! Thank you for doing your part too. :D

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4. By Solar Cali Girl on October 30, 2008 11:37 PM

I'm voting yes on 7. The enviros opposing it (a handful of the 200 enviro orgs in CA) are the same ones that lined up with PG&E and Enron to pass electricty deregulation. True story - check it out at http://confusedinsolarcalifornia.blogspot.com/.

In the meantime, supporters of Prop 7 include 4 Nobel Laureates, David Freeman (the guy who ran SMUD, LADWP, the Tennessee Valley Authority and who advised Presidents Kennedy and Carter on energy policy), Dr. Don Aitken (original proponent of an RPS) among others.I'm going with the scientists on this one because the urgency of the climate change crisis we face demands it.

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