CalMatters
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2022 California election, propositions, Gov. Gavin Newsom and everything else about California policy and politics, our newsroom covers it. Our channel is all about explaining California politics and policy.
CalMatters
6d ago
Join CalMatters CEO Neil Chase and Capitol Reporter Sameea Kamal in an in-depth conversation about the 2024 CalMatters Voter Guide. These experts will discuss how to navigate the guide and the best ways to use it to help make voting in the 2024 General Election as easy as possible. With 10 state propositions, critical legislative races, it's crucial to keep voters informed. The CalMatter's 2024 Voter Guide includes district lookup tools, printable zines, TikTok videos and more while still continuing to deliver nonpartisan election reporting. Watch this online conversation and gain a deeper und ..read more
Prop. 34: Should California require certain providers to use prescription drug revenue for patients?
CalMatters
6d ago
Since 1992, federal law has given health care providers a deal: Serve low-income and at-risk patients and get a discount on pharmaceuticals. Providers that make use of this program can turn around and sell those drugs at retail rates. Their profits can then be used to expand their healthcare services to disadvantaged groups. Proposition 34 would require some California providers to spend at least 98% of that net drug sale revenue on “direct patient care.” Providers that don’t risk having their state license and tax-exempt status revoked and losing out on government contracts. Vote YES if you w ..read more
CalMatters
1w ago
Proposition 35 would require the state to spend the money from a tax on health care plans on Medi-Cal, the public insurance program for low-income Californians and people with disabilities. The revenue would go to primary and specialty care, emergency services, family planning, mental health and prescription drugs. It would also prevent legislators from using the tax revenue to replace existing state Medi-Cal spending. Over the next four years, it is projected to generate upwards of $35 billion. Earlier this year, Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed using the tax revenue to cover other Medi-Cal program ..read more
CalMatters
1w ago
Should California make it easier for local governments to fund affordable housing and infrastructure projects? California makes it difficult for local governments to borrow money. Not only do most city and county bonds require voter approval, they need the support of at least two-thirds of those voting to pass. Proposition 5 would amend the California constitution by lowering the required threshold to 55% for any borrowing to fund affordable housing construction, down payment assistance programs and a host of “public infrastructure” projects, including those for water management, local hospita ..read more
CalMatters
1w ago
Should California borrow $10 billion to respond to climate change? Approving Proposition 4 would authorize $10 billion in debt to spend on environmental and climate projects, with the biggest chunk, $1.9 billion, for drinking water improvements. The bond prioritizes lower-income communities, and those most vulnerable to climate change, and requires annual audits. Repaying the money could cost $400 million a year over 40 years, a legislative analysis said, meaning taxpayers could spend $16 billion. Vote YES if you support borrowing $10 billion for climate and environmental projects. Vote NO if ..read more
CalMatters
1w ago
Los Angeles County is home to more than 75,000 unhoused people -- more than two-thirds of whom live on the street, according to the county's point-in-time count data. Measure A is supposed to help change that by raising taxes on certain items sold in the county. What exactly would this measure do, and could it make a dent in the problem? Join us for a panel discussion with experts who can help us dig into this issue. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/2nS7N9c Subscribe to our newsletters: http://bit.ly/33qOYJk Support our newsroom: http://bit.ly/33zhYhU ..read more
CalMatters
2w ago
Proposition 2 would provide $8.5 billion to K-12 schools and $1.5 billion to community colleges to renovate, fix and construct facilities. The money would be distributed through matching grants, with the state paying a greater share of costs for less affluent districts and those with higher numbers of English learners and foster youth. Some of the money would be set aside for removing lead from water, creating transitional kindergarten classrooms and building career and technical education facilities. Vote YES if you want to authorize the state to borrow $10 billion to repair K-12 schools and ..read more
CalMatters
2w ago
Proposition 36 would reclassify some misdemeanor theft and drug crimes as felonies. The measure would also create a new category of crime — a “treatment-mandated felony.” People who don’t contest the charges could complete drug treatment instead of going to prison, but if they don’t finish treatment, they still face up to three years in prison. Vote YES if you want to increase the penalties for some theft and drug crimes. Vote NO if you do not want to increase the penalties for some theft and drug crimes. Subscribe to our channel to see more video explainers about California’s propositions. #p ..read more
CalMatters
2w ago
Should California limit forced labor in state prisons? Proposition 6 would amend the California Constitution to prohibit the state from punishing inmates with involuntary work assignments and from disciplining those who refuse to work. Instead, state prisons could set up a volunteer work assignment program to take time off sentences in the form of credits. It would let county or city ordinances set up a pay scale for inmates in local jails. The measure’s potential costs remain unknown and a point of contention, though a related law says compensation would be set by the state corrections depart ..read more
CalMatters
3w ago
Should California allow local governments to impose rent controls? Vote YES if you want California cities to expand rent control. Vote NO if you do not want to change how rent control is regulated in California. Many cities, including San Francisco and Los Angeles, limit the amount a landlord can raise the rent each year — a policy known as rent control. But for nearly 30 years, California has imposed limits on those limits, via a law known as Costa-Hawkins. Cities cannot set rent control on single-family homes or apartments built after 1995. And landlords are free to set their own rental rate ..read more