Friday, October 23, 1998
Students have chance to influence governmental policy
ELECTIONS: Voters face decisions about gambling on reservations,
budget issues due to propositions
By Emi Kojima
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Being under the age of 21, not many UCLA students can legally
gamble on Indian reservations.
But if they’re over 18, they can at least vote on a proposition
about them  thanks to the 26th amendment to the
Constitution.
On Nov. 3, students will help make decisions on a host of
propositions which appear on the ballot, from whether property tax
policy should change to considering whether to make eating horse
meat illegal.
Proposition 1
This proposition would allow the repair or replacement of
property that was damaged due to some environmental condition
without increasing the property’s value.
The legislature put this proposition on the ballot in an effort
to alleviate payments from homeowners with damaged property from
natural disasters.
Proposition 1 would cause a drop in property tax revenue of less
than $1 million, according to the state’s legislative analyst.
The revenue loss, some of which goes to educational programs,
would be covered by the state.
No groups officially endorse or oppose Proposition 1.
Proposition 2
Also on the ballot due to efforts of the state legislature,
Proposition 2 would place more restrictions on loans to the General
Fund from state transportation funds.
California’s transportation system  including the
highways, public streets and roads, and public transportation
systems  is paid for by federal, state, local and private
money.
State transportation funds come from gasoline taxes and fees on
vehicles, generally administered by the Department of Motor
Vehicles.
The money from these sources can be lent to the state General
Fund, which pays for education and health and social services
programs, among others. The money lent must by repaid.
Proposition 2 would require any money borrowed to be paid back
within the same fiscal year it was loaned or within three fiscal
years if the governor declares a state of emergency, among other
rules about the lending process.
This proposition is an example of a proposition which isn’t
necessarily comprehensible for the general public.
Yet Rachel Fairchild will read through the material on the
proposition and try to make sense of it.
"I read through the material. If I still don’t understand it,
then I vote ‘no’ because it’s better to vote ‘no’ since it doesn’t
change anything," said Fairchild, who is on staff at UCLA.
Fairchild has information about the general election sitting on
her refrigerator right now and said she will read through it prior
to voting.
Proposition 3
California elections operate under an open primaries system that
allows voters in primary elections  the ones in which
political parties decide which candidates to endorse.
Residents can vote for any candidates regardless of the voter’s
political party during these elections.
The November elections will be a general election, in which
multiple parties compete for government positions.
Prior to March 1996, California residents could only vote during
the primary elections for candidates within their political
party.
When Proposition 198 was adopted, voters could cross party
lines.
Should this proposition pass, primary elections would have
separate ballots for each particular party, and residents must vote
within their party during the elections.
Proposition 7
Every year until 2011, $218 million in state tax-credits would
be allocated to improving California air if Proposition 7, a
measure put on the ballot by petitioners, passes.
The state Air Resources Board would use money from tax credits
to reduce polluting emissions by updating vehicles and buying new
equipment.
Should the proposition become law, the state would have to foot
a bill of $4.7 million a year.
The American Lung Association, California Nurses Association and
Sacramento Chamber of Commence support the proposition, while
Taxpayers Against Corporate Welfare oppose it.
For Fairchild, knowing the supporters and opponents of the
election is important.
"I will look at who supports each proposition and what
candidates agree with the stance of the organizations," she
said.
More information on the Nov. 3 elections can be found at
http://vote.98.ss.ca.gov.
SPECIAL FEATURE:
A collection of Daily Bruin’s coverage to the 1998 elections
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