California special election, 2005
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The California special election of 2005 will be held on November 8, 2005 after being called by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on June 13, 2005. California voters will vote on eight ballot propositions. Propositions 73, 76, and 77 are initiative constitutional amendments, while the others are initiative statutes. The upcoming election is set to be the most expensive in California history.
Schwarzenegger called the election to allow voters to decide on propositions regarding teacher tenure requirements (Proposition 74), the use of union dues for political campaign contributions (Proposition 75), state budgetary spending limits (Proposition 76), and redistricting (Proposition 77). These four propositions have come to be known as Governor Schwarzenegger's Reform Agenda. The Governor claims his agenda will clear the way for correction of the problems he was elected to solve.
Four other propositions regarding parental notification for abortions by minors (Proposition 73), prescription drugs (Propositions 78 and 79), and electric industry regulation (Proposition 80) also qualified for the 2005 ballot.
Propositions
Proposition 73: Parental Notification
Summary
Amends California Constitution to bar abortion on unemancipated minor until 48 hours after physician notifies minor's parent/legal guardian, except in medical emergency or with parental waiver. Permits judicial waiver of notice based on clear and convincing evidence of minor's maturity or minor's best interests. Physician must report abortions performed on minors and State shall compile statistics. Authorizes monetary damages for violation. Minor must consent to abortion unless mentally incapable or in medical emergency. Permits judicial relief if minor's consent to abortion is coerced.
Opinion Polls
| Source | Yes | No | Undecided | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PPIC (10/16-23) | 42% | 48% | 10% | NO +6 |
| Survey USA (10/15-17) | 60% | 38% | 2% | YES +22 |
| Survey USA (9/30-10/2) | 59% | 39% | 2% | YES +20 |
| Field Poll (8/19-29) | 45% | 44% | 10% | EVEN |
| PPIC (8/8-15) | 44% | 48% | 10% | NO +4 |
| Field Poll (6/13-19) | 48% | 43% | 9% | YES +5 |
Proposition 74: Public School Teachers Tenure
Summary
Increases length of time required before a teacher may become a permanent employee from two complete consecutive school years to five complete consecutive school years; measure applies to teachers whose probationary period commenced during or after the 2003-2004 fiscal year. Authorizes school boards to dismiss a permanent teaching employee who receives two consecutive unsatisfactory performance evaluations.
Opinion Polls
| Source | Yes | No | Undecided | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PPIC (10/16-23) | 46% | 48% | 6% | NO+2 |
| Survey USA (10/15-17) | 53% | 45% | 1% | YES +8 |
| Survey USA (9/30-10/2) | 55% | 44% | 2% | YES +10 |
| PPIC (9/12-19) | 43% | 47% | 10% | NO +4 |
| Field Poll (8/19-29) | 46% | 37% | 17% | YES +9 |
| PPIC (8/8-15) | 49% | 42% | 9% | YES +7 |
| Field Poll (6/13-19) | 61% | 32% | 7% | YES +29 |
Proposition 75: Union Dues - Political Contributions
Summary
Prohibits public employee labor organizations from using dues or fees for political contributions unless the employee provides prior consent each year on a specified written form. Prohibition does not apply to dues or fees collected for charitable organizations, health care insurance, or other purposes directly benefiting the public employee. Requires labor organizations to maintain and submit to the Fair Political Practices Commission records concerning individual employees' and organizations' political contributions; those records are not subject to public disclosure.
Opinion Polls
| Source | Yes | No | Undecided | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PPIC (10/16-23) | 46% | 46% | 8% | Even |
| Survey USA (10/15-17) | 56% | 42% | 2% | YES +14 |
| Survey USA (9/30-10/2) | 60% | 37% | 3% | YES +23 |
| Field Poll (8/19-29) | 55% | 32% | 13% | YES +23 |
| PPIC (8/8-15) | 48% | 33% | 9% | YES +15 |
| Field Poll (6/13-19) | 57% | 34% | 9% | YES +23 |
Proposition 76: State Spending Limits
Summary
Changes state minimum school funding requirements (Proposition 98), permitting suspension of minimum funding, but terminating repayment requirement, and eliminating authority to reduce funding when state revenues decrease. Excludes above-minimum appropriations from schools' funding base. Limits state spending to prior year total plus revenue growth. Shifts excess revenues from schools/tax relief to budget reserve, specified construction, debt repayment. Requires Governor to reduce state appropriations, under specified circumstances, including employee compensation, state contracts. Continues prior year appropriations if new state budget delayed. Prohibits state special funds borrowing. Requires payment of local government mandates.
Opinion Polls
| Source | Yes | No | Undecided | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PPIC (10/16-23) | 30% | 62% | 8% | NO +32 |
| Survey USA (10/15-17) | 54% | 41% | 5% | YES +13 |
| Survey USA (9/30-10/2) | 58% | 36% | 6% | YES +22 |
| PPIC (9/12-19) | 26% | 63% | 11% | NO +37 |
| Field Poll (8/19-29) | 19% | 65% | 16% | NO +46 |
| PPIC (8/8-15) | 28% | 61% | 11% | NO +33 |
| Field Poll (6/13-19) | 35% | 42% | 23% | NO +7 |
Proposition 77: Redistricting
Summary
Amends state Constitution’s process for redistricting California’s Senate, Assembly, Congressional and Board of Equalization districts. Requires three-member panel of retired judges, selected by legislative leaders, to adopt new redistricting plan if measure passes and again after each national census. Panel must consider legislative, public proposals/comments and hold public hearings. Redistricting plan becomes effective immediately when adopted by judges’ panel and filed with Secretary of State. If voters subsequently reject redistricting plan, process repeats. Specifies time for judicial review of adopted redistricting plan; if plan fails to conform to requirements, court may order new plan.
Opinion Polls
| Source | Yes | No | Undecided | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PPIC (10/16-23) | 36% | 50% | 14% | NO +14 |
| Survey USA (10/15-17) | 54% | 41% | 5% | YES +13 |
| Survey USA (9/30-10/2) | 59% | 36% | 5% | YES +23 |
| PPIC (9/12-19) | 33% | 50% | 17% | NO +17 |
| Field Poll (8/19-29) | 32% | 46% | 22% | NO +14 |
| PPIC (8/8-15) | 34% | 49% | 17% | NO +15 |
| Field Poll (6/13-19) | 35% | 46% | 19% | NO +11 |
Proposition 78: Drug Discounts (Industry Backed)
Summary
Establishes discount prescription drug program, overseen by the Department of Health Services. Enables certain low - and moderate - income California residents to purchase prescription drugs at reduced prices. Imposes $15 application fee, renewable annually. Requires Department's prompt determination of residents' eligibility, based on listed qualifications. Authorizes Department to contract with pharmacies to sell prescription drugs at agreed-upon discounts negotiated in advance, and to negotiate rebate agreements with drug manufacturers. Permits outreach programs to increase public awareness. Creates state fund for deposit of rebate payments from drug manufacturers. Allows program to be terminated under specified conditions.
Forces contracts with health care providers and pharmacies to supply only those drugs made by a select group of manufacturers, limiting consumer choice. Only applicable to people who already have health insurance (the discount will not be given to people without health insurance). Forces people to buy select manufacturers' drugs, perhaps at a more expensive rate than alternative generic drugs now available, which will compound an already dire situation for people without health care. This proposition is funded and backed by drug manufacturers.
Opinion Polls
| Source | Yes | No | Undecided | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PPIC (9/12-19) | 43% | 38% | 19% | YES +5 |
| Field Poll (8/19-29) | 49% | 31% | 20% | YES +18 |
| Field Poll (6/13-19) | 57% | 26% | 17% | YES +31 |
Proposition 79: Drug Discounts (Consumer Groups Backed)
Summary
Provides for prescription drug discounts to Californians who qualify based on income-related standards, to be funded through rebates from participating drug manufacturers negotiated by California Department of Health Services. Rebates must be deposited in State Treasury fund, used only to reimburse pharmacies for discounts and to offset administration costs. At least 95% of rebates must go to fund discounts. Prohibits new Medi-Cal contracts with manufacturers not providing the Medicaid best price to this program, except for drugs without therapeutic equivalent. Establishes oversight board. Makes prescription drug profiteering, as defined, unlawful.
Opinion Polls
| Source | Yes | No | Undecided | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PPIC (9/12-19) | 34% | 40% | 26% | NO +6 |
| Field Poll (8/19-29) | 42% | 34% | 24% | YES +8 |
| Field Poll (6/13-19) | 48% | 33% | 19% | YES +15 |
Proposition 80: Electricity Regulation
Summary
Subjects electric service providers, as defined, to control and regulation by California Public Utilities Commission. Imposes restrictions on electricity customers' ability to switch from private utilities to other electric providers. Provides that registration by electric service providers with Commission constitutes providers' consent to regulation. Requires all retail electric sellers, instead of just private utilities, to increase renewable energy resource procurement by at least 1% each year, with 20% of retail sales procured from renewable energy by 2010, instead of current requirement of 2017. Imposes duties on Commission, Legislature and electrical providers.
Opinion Polls
| Source | Yes | No | Undecided | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field Poll (8/19-29) | 33% | 35% | 32% | NO +2 |
External links
- Official election results
- VoteCircle.com Non-partisan resources & vote sharing network for Californians
- Rough and Tumble
- California Politics, The Capitol Insiders Forum
- Nov. 8, 2005 California Ballot Propositions, Institute of Governmental Studies Library, UC Berkeley California
- Latest results from PollingPoint
- Join Arnold - Vote Yes
- Alliance for a Better California - Vote No
