(The Center Square) – Through this year’s propositions, Californians voted to pass new government spending on climate change and school facilities, while rejecting new government powers relating to wages, work, rent control, and spending.
Californians also voted to expand prosecution of serial theft and major drug crimes, creating an option to complete substance abuse or mental health treatment as an alternative to going to prison.
Prop. 2 would take out a $10 billion bond for K-12, community college, and technical education program facility upgrades, with an estimated $7.5 billion in interest payments for a total of $17.5 billion over 35 years. With 56.9% of votes thus far supporting the measure, it appears likely to pass but is yet to be called.
Prop. 3, which removes language in the state constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman, passed with the support of 61% of voters thus far.
Prop. 4 takes out another $10 billion bond for water, forest, and climate management with $6 billion in interest payments for a total of $16 billion, and is reported as having passed with the support of 57.9% of voters.
Prop. 5, which would amend the state constitution’s limits on new taxes to allow municipalities to take out bonds for housing and infrastructure projects with a 55% vote instead of a ⅔ vote, appears on track to fail, with 56.3% of voters thus far having voted against it. An exemption to the two-thirds vote requirement already exists for school bonds.
Prop. 6, which would ban prisoners from being forced to work, appears on track to fail, with 54.9% of votes counted against the measure.
Prop. 32, which would raise the minimum wage to $18 per hour, has 52% of voters thus far against the measure and seems likely to fail.
Prop. 34 would have allowed governments to expand rent control, but has failed with opposition from 61.6% of voters.
Prop. 35 maintains a current $7-8 billion annual tax on managed health care insurance plans and will use the funds to pay doctors higher rates for Medicare to encourage more doctors to accept Medicare patients. While opposed by the governor, the measure is reported as passed, with 66.8% of voters supporting the measure.
Prop. 36, which allows for felony charges for serial thieves and major drug crimes, and creates a “treatment-mandated felony” crime class that would allow individuals to complete mental health or substance abuse treatment instead of going to prison, passed with 70.4% of the vote. The proposition was opposed by the governor but supported by many Democratic mayors.
