CFA's Positions on Current Ballot Measures
Proposition 93 is a proposal to rearrange term limits in the legislature and is supported by CFA.
While reducing the total number of years a Californian may serve in the legislature from 14 (six in the Assembly, eight in the Senate) to 12, it allows an individual to serve the entire time in one house (six terms in the Assembly, three in the Senate) or in combination.CFA supports Prop. 93. California’s higher education system is complex, and to grasp satisfactorily the issues requires one to climb a steep learning curve. Often, by the time a legislator fully understands our system, she or he is “term-limited” out of her/his respective house.
Expertise requires experience. When we have an opportunity to work with someone who is devoted to public higher education, such as current chair of the Assembly Higher Education Committee Anthony Portantino, we would like to keep him in the Assembly as long as possible.
CFA urges a yes vote on Proposition 93 on Feb. 5.
Proposition 92 is a problematic measure and is opposed by CFA.
There are several problems with this initiative. It weakens legislative oversight, in one instance by requiring truly extraordinary majorities to alter the measure’s provisions (four-fifths vote of each house; we all know how difficult it is to get a two thirds vote for the budget).
But the fundamental reason for CFA’s opposition is Prop 92’s potential costs.
The non-partisan Legislative Analyst’s Office, who is charged with determining the fiscal impact of initiatives, estimates that the first three years of this measure would reduce the general fund by $880 million, which would be catastrophic for the CSU. It would be a catastrophe because so much of the state’s general fund budget is guaranteed in the state constitution to specific programs leaving only a relatively small portion subject to reduction.
The CSU budget is entirely in that small portion.The public higher education system in this state has three segments. In order to address the problems of an accessible, affordable, high quality public higher education, all the segments have to be involved.
CFA urges a no vote on Proposition 92 on Feb. 5.
