January 17, 2008

Finally, a vote for 91

When voters head to the ballot on Feb. 5, they will vote on seven ballot measures.

The first is Proposition 91, which has been abandoned by its own supporters.

The measure was a negotiating tactic used by the transportation lobby in 2006 as they pressed the governor and Legislature to cut a deal on what ultimately became Proposition 1A, which voters approved (with 77 percent of the vote) in November of that year.

After lawmakers struck the deal, proponents of what's now Proposition 91 were supposed to stop submitting signatures. But they were victims of their own success, having already turned in enough signatures to qualify for the ballot.

So in the official voting pamphlet, the authors of 91 are urging a "no" vote.

But Sen. Tom McClintock disagrees. The Thousand Oaks Republican issued his recommendations for the Feb. 5 ballot and says of Prop. 91:

"When a watered-down version of Prop. 91 was adopted by the legislature, its sponsors dropped this measure after it qualified. Nevertheless, if you want to genuinely protect our transportation taxes from being raided, Prop 91 is the Real McCoy," he wrote.

Oh, there is also an official Yes on 91 Web site.

"The authors of this measure will tell you it is no longer necessary because of the passage of Proposition 1A in 2006," the site says. "DON'T BELIEVE THEM!"

Posted by Shane Goldmacher on January 17, 2008 10:00 AM