Wednesday, June 3, 1998
Voters voice opinions on propositions
ELECTIONS: Choices find mixed approval from interest groups
By Catherine Turner and Dennis Lim
Daily Bruin Contributors
While some propositions swept through campus with barely a
whisper, student groups emphatically opposed Propositions 226 and
227.
Despite their attempts, voters passed Proposition 227 on
Tuesday, along with Propositions 219, 220, 221, 222 and 225.
Prop. 227, which passed with 61.3 percent, requires that all
public school instruction for Limited English Proficient students
be in English, unless parents show special circumstances.
A short-term English-immersion program, which will not exceed
one year unless parents show that their children have special
needs, is included in the proposition.
Supporters of the proposition are excited and optimistic about
the passage and impact of the proposition.
"(Proposition) 227 will mark the beginning of the end of
bilingual education all over America," said Ron Unz, author of the
English for the Children initiative.
To disappointed opponents of the proposition, the passage of
Prop. 227 follows the conservative trend of the voter history of
Californians over the last few years.
"I’m mad that yet another initiative against immigrants and
people of color has passed," said Carol Lee, next year’s director
of the Asian Pacific Coalition and an organizer for Freedom City.
"We’ve seen so many in the last few years."
Freedom City is an ongoing student activist event which is
attempting to educate students on the consequences of Proposition
226 and 227.
The Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF)
is "looking into their legal options right now," according to Laura
Serreiro, a representative for MALDEF. Wedenesday, MALDEF will
announce whether they are going to file a lawsuit to hold up the
proposition incourt.
Proposition 226, with 53.4 of votes against, failed. It would
have require that unions obtain the permission of their employees
before they use wages or union dues for political
contributions.
Without the passage of Proposition 226, critics contend unions
will continue to be able to use portions of workers’ wages and
union fees for political donations without the permission of their
employees.
"This is just an example of how enough money can kill anything
through misleading lies and distortion," said Mitch Zak, campaign
director for Yes on Proposition 226.
Proposition 223, the measure which reduces school district
administrative funds to 5 percent of the overall budget, failed
with 54 percent voting no.
"We’re ecstatic. It was a cynical initiative which tried to …
pit teachers against other educators, (Los Angeles) against the
rest of the state, demonize the administration and blame us for
what’s wrong," said Bob Wells, assistant director of the
Association of California School Administrators.
Proposition 224, which required an independent cost analysis
before state-funded design and engineering contracts are awarded,
failed with 61 percent voting no.
Proponents of the initiative are still hopeful and optimistic
that the campaign "was a great success for Californians, despite
the loss," wrote Steve Hopcraft, member of Taxpayers for
Competitive Bidding (Yes on Proposition 224).
"Perhaps this campaign will encourage the Legislature and the
next governor to take action to remedy the problems," he added.
Proposition 219, the measure that requires all statewide and
local ballot measures to apply to all parts of the jurisdiction,
passed with 67.2 percent approving.
Proposition 220, which gives judges the choice to consolidate
the superior and municipal courts systems in their individual
county, also passed by 64.7 percent.
The proposition may save money, based on how many counties
choose to consolidate their superior and municipal court
systems.
The 62 percent passage of Proposition 221 now gives the
Commission of Judicial Performance discretionary authority to
discipline subordinate judicial officers.
With the passage of Proposition 222, a second degree murder of
any police officer on duty is now punishable by life in prison
without parole.
The measure also does not allow persons convicted of murder to
earn credits to reduce their prison sentence. It passed with 77.5
percent of the vote.
Passing Proposition 225 with 53.5 percent, California now
officially supports a U.S. Constitutional amendment establishing
congressional term limits.
The proposition requires California legislators to support a US
Constitutional amendment for congressional term limits. Legislators
who who do not support the amendment will be identified as
non-supporters on the ballot.
AARON TOUT/Daily Bruin
Ron Unz, chair of the Proposition 227 campaign, speaks at a
victory celebration.