Passing Proposition 32 is a step forward for the taxpayers in California. Not only are corporate, union, and government contractors banned from using their money to “buy” government contracts, but Proposition 32 also bans the automatic deductions from individual paychecks for the purpose of supporting political causes.
People have the right to spend their money in the manner they choose. They can voluntarily contribute to charity, church, or political causes. In contrast, payroll deductions for various taxes are mandatory and required by law. Currently, corporations, unions, and government contractors can take automatic deductions out of their employees’ paychecks for political causes. However, no one automatically takes payroll deductions for charity or church. Why is it that these entities are allowed to take your money for political causes?
Imagine if there were an additional ten-cent tax on every gallon of gasoline. This tax would be used to subsidize a local gas guzzling SUV manufacturer so as to make SUVs more affordable. If you did not want to pay this ten-cent tax, then on the first working day of each year, you had to personally go to the DMV and fill out a three-page form stating that you were opposed to SUVs and that you did not want to pay the additional 10 cent per gallon tax this year.
When “free will” and “voluntary” are removed from the process, automatic payroll deductions start looking like a tax. This is especially irksome when forced to give to a cause that may be antithetical to your personal beliefs. However, voluntary contributions, done without compulsion or intimidation, enable citizens to voice their support to the causes they agree with. This proposition does not prevent a voluntary deduction by a union or corporation from your paycheck.
It has been argued that Proposition 32 does not prevent super PACs from raising money for political purposes. Furthermore, corporations and other forms of businesses may find ways to contribute money for political purposes. For the sake of argument, let us concede that this is true. But these and other potential loop holes of concern can be addressed in future legislation. Our vote for Proposition 32 should not be based upon what the author did not put in the Proposition.
One known purpose of Proposition 32 is to prevent automatic deductions from individual’s paychecks. It ensures that individuals only contribute to candidates, parties, or political causes with which they are in agreement when they want to make contributions.
We all have the right to spend our money the way we desire and this includes contributions to causes. Many large corporations have a process like this in place when it comes to donations to charities. These donations are purely voluntary just like contributions to political causes. Contributions that are confiscated without consent or by force for purposes that are not in accordance with personal beliefs should not be tolerated. After all, this is the United States of America, not a communist country.
The process should be such that a willing individual opts in for paycheck deductions. It should not take a lot of effort to opt out of donating to a political cause. In fact, there should be no effort at all; you just choose not to give.
A known problem is that government contractors contribute to politicians with the “understanding” that when state contracts come up for bids, the contractors that were the most generous in supporting a particular candidate or party expect a political payback. These paybacks lead to political and economic cronyism which is detrimental to the state as a whole. Proposition 32 is designed to prevent this abuse.
Is Proposition 32 perfect? No. Does it solve all the problems? No. Is there another way to stop the abuses in the system? Probably. But doing nothing will not solve the problems either. Proposition 32 is a step in the right direction toward cleaning up the problems that threaten California’s future. Let us deal with the known problems and solve them first. Then as the possible problems come, the same initiative process is still intact to deal with any new problems.
Mark Meuser is a candidate for State Senate District 7. You can follow him on Facebook.
Cal ranked # 2 nationally in faculty earning potential. Spending on salaries increased 29% in last six years. Believe it: Harvard College less costly. University of California negates promise of equality of opportunity: access, affordability. Self-absorbed Provost Breslauer Chancellor Birgeneau are outspoken on ‘charging residents much higher’ tuition. Birgeneau ($450,000) Breslauer ($306,000) like to blame the politicians, since they stopped giving them their entitled funding. The ‘charge instate students higher tuition’ skyrocketed fees by an average 14% per year from 2006 to 2011 academic years. If they had allowed fees to rise at the same rate of inflation over past 10 years fees would still be in reach of middle income students. Breslauer Birgeneau increase disparities in higher education, defeat the promise of equality of opportunity, and create a less-educated work force. Additional state tax funding must sunset.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/49267996
“But all together, the top contributors among the wealthy and business interests spent $931 million, swamping labor. Eliminating union spending would worsen this disparity, making it nearly impossible for millions of middle-class voters to make their voices heard. “Indeed, some of the largest contributors to the 32 campaign are the same wealthy men who have spent millions to influence politics over the past decade.”
85150. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law and this title, no corporation, labor union, or public employee labor union shall make a contribution to any candidate, candidate controlled committee; or to any other committee, including a political party committee, if such funds will be used to make contributions to any candidate or candidate controlled committee. { look at the first part of the statement; notwithstanding any other provision of law..The Supreme Court has already ruled that corporations have the same rights as individuals therefore, only unions are affected.} 85151. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law and this title, no corporation, labor union, public employee labor union, government contractor, or government employer shall deduct from an employee’s wages, earnings, or compensation any amount of money to be used for political purposes. {Only unions have payroll deductions NOT corporations or gov. contractors, that's the second loophole.}
So, even if a member opts to contribute voluntarily, the union still can't use the money for political purposes
Make a difference. Prop 30, 32, 38 are like taking an Alka-Seltzer for your aching head when you need brain surgery. Prop 30, 32, 38 are expediency, pure and simple, No on 30, 32, 38
If you look at the states who get high marks for business creation through tax incentives – among them Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Idaho and Utah – they also have high poverty rates of up to 18 percent. So who do you what to blame their troubles on? Screw 32
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Robert J Birgeneau and Provost have forgotten they are public servants, stewards of the public money, not overseers of their own fiefdom. Let’s review how B&B have handled the tax dollars they currently get. Pay ex-politician $300,000 for several lectures; Recruit affluent foreign & affluent out of state students who then displace qualified instate applicants; Spend millions (prominent East Coast university accomplishing same at 0 cost) for OE consultants to remove Chancellor, Provost created inefficiencies but prevent consultants from examining senior management. Email opinion marsha.kelman@ucop.edu Calif. State Senators Assembly Members (The author has 35 years’ consulting, has taught at Cal. where he observed the culture & ways of senior management & was not fired). Prop 30, 32, 38 are like taking an Alka-Seltzer for your aching head when you need brain surgery. No on 30, 32, 38
the worst thing we can do to our state is to pile on additional taxes onto our already too high tax burden. we already impose the second highest top income tax rate and highest state sales tax rate and look at the fiscal disaster we have become. the problem continues to be not tax rates, but government spending. other than funding for education, state spending has really not fallen. state employment levels are at all time highs along with their bloated work rules, benefits and pensions. this state loves to pile on 'soak the rich' taxes to fund all sorts of things, but the monies never show up as planned, and more and more successful businesses and individuals either leave, move income elsewhere, or don't expand here.
So, even if a member opts to contribute voluntarily, the union still can't use the money for political purposes
85150. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law and this title, no corporation, labor union, or public employee labor union shall make a contribution to any candidate, candidate controlled committee; or to any other committee, including a political party committee, if such funds will be used to make contributions to any candidate or candidate controlled committee. { look at the first part of the statement; notwithstanding any other provision of law..The Supreme Court has already ruled that corporations have the same rights as individuals therefore, only unions are affected.} 85151. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law and this title, no corporation, labor union, public employee labor union, government contractor, or government employer shall deduct from an employee’s wages, earnings, or compensation any amount of money to be used for political purposes. {Only unions have payroll deductions NOT corporations or gov. contractors, that's the second loophole.}
Let’s talk Chamber of Commerce, their attorneys and members attend every MSHA, OSHA or CAL OSHA hearing I have every attended fighting to stop or repeal health and safety laws that protect workers. Yeah , that’s the folks I want to decide my working conditions and pay. Let’s talk pensions, pensions only amount to 3% of the State of California’s budget, http://www.letstalkpensions.com/myths-and-facts employees pay into this benefit through payroll deductions. Yet you are attacking the 3% and not responded to the 97% elephant in the room.
Give me one other organization that fights for worker's rights. If this was to hurt the big corporate interest why are they the ones putting money into this campaign to pass? The Koch bros., Carl Rove, big oil companies, and insurance companies, wall street bankers and developers. That's because they are all exempt from Prop 32. Labor rights aren’t etched in stone. They were won through politics and collective bargaining. So if you’re the 99% that have to work for a living say, “good bye” to, vacation leave, health insurance, 8 hour work day, minimum wage, work place health and safety laws, overtime pay, unemployment, child labor laws, meal breaks, nurse patient ratios just to name a few. Screw 32 vote NO
Vote YES on 32. Brought to you by Common Sense.
Sacramento politicians have fooled us before, Don't let the Sacramento politicians fool us again
Please READ THE BALLOT MEASURE ! There are no special exemptions. Prop 32 is important campaign finance reform and will only stop unions from taking money from their workers involuntarily. It is all about freedom of conscience, freedom of choice, freedom of speech. YES ON 32 !
Vote by mail. It's the 21st century. You do know that Dionne Warwick is no longer a Top 40 artist, right?