Gimme My Props

Since 2003, San Francisco has approved almost 700 million dollars worth of bonds to pay for school improvements. Proposition A would issue bonds worth another 750 million dollars. Where would that money go?

Prop 64 is all about pot. Specifically, legalizing it and taxing it. Right now, here in California, marijuana is only legal for medical use, though possession of an ounce or less is just an infraction — basically, like a speeding ticket.

Both supporters and opponents of capital punishment agree that California’s death penalty has major issues.

About one in five public school students in California is an English Language Learner. So, is it outdated to still believe that public schools should teach in English?

Proposition 57 is all about how people get in and out of California’s prisons. It can be broken down into two parts.

Prop 55 has to do with income tax. Specifically, income tax for people who make a lot of money. Four years ago we passed a tax rate increase for people making more than 250,000 dollars a year. That extra money — about 7 billion dollars — has gone to education and health care. The increase is set to expire in 2018--but not if a majority of Californians vote yes on Prop 55.

Proposition 52 has to do with how California funds Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal is the state’s version of Medicaid, the low income health care program. In order for California to get federal Medicaid funding, it has to put up matching dollars.

If Proposition 51 passes, the state would issue nine billion dollars in bonds for school construction — most of it going to K-12 schools and community colleges. The rest will be spent on charter schools and technical programs. The money could be used for anything, from building new schools to rooting out asbestos.

Proposition 65 is about reusable bags. Namely, the paper bags and thick plastic bags that grocery stores and other stores sell to you and me. It would direct the profits from selling those bags to a new Environmental Protection and Enhancement Fund. So when you buy one of those bags, some of your money will go to wildlife conservation, drought mitigation, and beach clean-up.

This measure is about porn, condoms, freedom of speech, and worker safety. In the Adult Entertainment Industry — the pornography business — performers are currently not required to use condoms. Proposition 60 would make condom use mandatory on porn sets in California.