State Endorsements

2016 Official Positions

US PRESIDENT

Hon. Hillary Clinton

US SENATE

Hon. Kamala Harris

CONGRESS

Hon. Barbara Lee, D9
Hon. Isadore Hall

CALIFORNIA SENATE

Hon. Sandre Swanson - D9

CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLYMEMBER

Hon. Rob Bonta
Hon. Tony Thurmond

2016 Ballot Propositions

51 YES

KINDERGARTEN THROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE PUBLIC EDUCATION FACILITIES BOND ACT OF 2016

Authorizes a statewide facilities bond for K-12 schools and community colleges to upgrade and repair older classrooms and relieve overcrowding. Helps bring facilities up to basic health and safety standards like earthquake retrofitting, fire safety and asbestos removal. This bond helps close the gap of income inequality in our schools, provides facilities for vocational education and to help returning Veterans prepare for the workplace. Will provide a safe, innovative learning environment for all our students. Supported by educators, school districts and leading Democrats. To learn more, visit www.YesOn51.com.

52 YES

THE MEDI-CAL FUNDING AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

Extends the current state Medi-Cal hospital fee program that helps pay for Medi-Cal health care services for seniors, children, and low income families. The hospital fee program generates over $3 billion a year in federal matching funds that wouldn’t be available otherwise at no cost to California taxpayers. This measure has very broad support, including doctors, nurses, health care and business groups, progressives, moderates and even conservatives, labor groups including teachers, and advocacy organizations for children, seniors and consumers. There is little, if any, opposition.

53 NO

STOP RIGHT WING MILLIONAIRE’S ATTACK ON LOCAL CONTROL AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Prop 53 erodes local control by requiring a statewide vote on local infrastructure projects. It empowers voters in faraway regions to reject infrastructure repairs your community needs. Prop 53 is opposed by California Professional Firefighters because it irresponsibly fails to contain any exemptions for emergencies/disasters. Prop 53 is being pushed by one right-wing multi-millionaire with a political agenda who has contributed to Tea Party groups and the Koch brothers – but his initiative hurts us all. Join California Labor Federation, firefighters, paramedics, local governments, water agencies, and Governor Jerry Brown in opposing Prop. 53. www.NoProp53.com

54 NO

LEGISLATURE. LEGISLATION AND PROCEEDINGS. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND STATUTE.

Provides special interests like tobacco, oil, and drug companies with new powers to block timely legislative action on key issues facing our state. Allows the use of legislative proceedings for "attack ads" and other political uses. Would increase state costs by millions of dollars.

55 YES

TAX EXTENSION TO FUND CHILDREN'S EDUCATION AND HEALTHCARE. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

This initiative will temporarily maintain the current tax rates on the wealthiest Californians to prevent billions of dollars in funding cuts for public education and vital services, like children’s health care. California students, schools and colleges can’t afford to go back to the days of massive teacher layoffs, larger class sizes, and cuts to programs like art and music, and should protect essential services. The money goes to local schools and the Legislature can’t touch it -- strict accountability requirements ensure funds designated for education go to classrooms, not to bureaucracy or administrative costs.

56 YES

CIGARETTE TAX TO FUND HEALTHCARE, TOBACCO USE PREVENTION, RESEARCH, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND STATUTE.

The California Healthcare, Research and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act of 2016 would raise cigarette taxes by $2 per pack -- with an equivalent increase on products containing nicotine derived from tobacco, including e-cigarettes -- to save lives and protect children. The measure is sponsored by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Lung Association in California, and American Heart Association because raising tobacco taxes keeps kids from smoking and helps smokers quit. Revenue from this user fee would be used to fight cancer and improve healthcare by funding treatment, research and prevention of cancer and tobacco-related diseases.

57 YES

THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND REHABILITATION ACT

Authorizes parole consideration for nonviolent inmates who complete the full sentence for their primary offense. Allows inmates to earn credits for good behavior, education and rehabilitative achievement. Requires judges rather than prosecutors to decide whether juveniles as young as 14-years-old should be tried as adults.

58 YES

THE LEARN INITIATIVE (LANGUAGE EDUCATION, ACQUISITION AND READINESS NOW!)

Prop 58 helps students learn English as quickly as possible and expands opportunities for English speakers to master a second language. The majority of California’s students do not presently have access to strong multilingual programs. The LEARN initiative gives parents and local school districts local control to chose the most effective instruction methods for students. By amending an outdated nearly 20-year-old law, Prop 227, we will remove barriers to learning for all students. Vote YES on PROP 58 to help our students LEARN!

59 YES

OVERTURN CITIZENS UNITED VOTER INSTRUCTION QUESTION

Asks whether elected officials should “use all of their constitutional authority,” including proposing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution, to reverse the 2010 SCOTUS decision in Citizens United v. FEC, to allow regulation or limitation of campaign contributions and spending, and make clear that corporations should not have the same constitutional rights as human beings.

60 NO

THE CALIFORNIA SAFER SEX IN THE ADULT FILM INDUSTRY ACT

Allows any resident of California to file a lawsuit against adult film performers and businesses that make adult films available for sale and presumes liability if a condom is not visible. Adult film performers may have to disclose their legal names and home addresses. Proponent authorized to become a state employee with removal only by a vote of the Legislature.

61 No Official Position

CALIFORNIA DRUG PRICE RELIEF INITIATIVE

62 YES

REPLACE THE COSTLY, FAILED DEATH PENALTY SYSTEM

Prop 62 replaces the death penalty with life in prison without parole, ensures certain justice for victims’ families, requires serious offenders to work and pay restitution, and saves taxpayers $150 million per year. Prop 62 is the only real solution to a failed death penalty system that is costly, ineffective, biased, and carries unavoidable risks of killing a wrongly convicted person. Learn more at www.YesOn62.com.

63 YES

SAFETY FOR ALL ACT

The Safety for All Act of 2016 prohibits possession of large-capacity military-style magazines, treats ammunition sales like gun sales by requiring instant point-of-sale background checks for ammunition purchases, keeps guns out of the hands of those who are prohibited from owning them, requires reporting of lost/stolen guns, and shares the list of those who are prohibited from owning or purchasing guns in California with the federal system.

64 YES

CONTROL, REGULATE AND TAX ADULT USE OF MARIJUANA ACT

The Adult Use of Marijuana Act is the consensus measure based on recognized best practices to finally create a safe and legal system for adult use of marijuana in California, while protecting our kids.

65 No Official Position

CARRY-OUT BAGS. CHARGES. INITIATIVE STATUTE.

66 NO

DEATH PENALTY. PROCEDURES. INITIATIVE STATUTE.

Changes death penalty procedures by removing legal safeguards and limiting death row prisoners’ ability to present new evidence of their innocence, greatly increasing California’s risk of executing an innocent person. Authorizes the Dept. of Corrections to move death row prisoners to any prison in California. Adds additional layers of legal review by moving death penalty appeals from the State Supreme Court to County Superior Courts. Exempts lethal injection protocol from state regulatory oversight. Would increase state costs that could be in the tens of millions of dollars annually for several years, with unknown long-term fiscal impacts.

67 YES

PLASTIC BAG BAN

A YES vote will keep in place the ban on plastic grocery bags passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor. It will keep plastic bags from becoming litter and protect wildlife and the ocean, which are harmed by plastic pollution. Out-of-state plastic bag companies have challenged California’s common sense ban and are trying to defeat 67, but a YES vote will allow the ban to go forward.

ENDORSEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

JUNE 2016 PRIMARY ELECTION

US PRESIDENT