Wellstone Club
Alameda County, CA
February 5, 2008
The Wellstone Club recommends and endorses:
John Edwards for President
Endorsed Vote: Yes
The Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club endorses John Edwards because he brings a message America needs to hear. Edwards is the only candidate who has the courage to say what must be said.
For more: http://www.wellstoneclub.org/PDFs/WDRC_supports_Edwards.pdf
Proposition 91: Transportation Funding
Endorsed Vote: No
Proposition 91 would prevent the state from spending gas tax revenue on non-transportation related endeavors. This goal was accomplished by Proposition 1A, which passed in November 2006 (while 91 was qualifying for the ballot). Proponents of Proposition 91 now agree that this initiative is no longer necessary.
Proposition 92: Community College Initiative
Endorsed Vote: Yes
This initiative would lower fees at community colleges, making it possible for many more Californians to get a college education. In 2004, when the Legislature raised fees to $26 per unit, community colleges lost more than 300,000 students. Proposition 92 would reduce fees to $15 per unit, and limit future increases while ensuring stable funding from the state’s general fund. It also establishes an independent Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, intended to protect community colleges from political influence and legislative whim. Community colleges are an invaluable resource for our state. They create opportunity for all of our people. They support California’s economy: For every dollar we spend on community colleges, $3 returns to the economy through the higher wages earned by students who have received a vocational degree or certificate.
Proposition 93: Term Limits and Legislative Reform Act
Endorsed Vote: Yes
Although this proposition reduces from 14 to 12 the total number of years that an individual may serve in the California State Assembly and Senate, it allows a legislator to serve the entire time in the same House—six 2-year terms in the Assembly or three 4-year terms in the Senate, or a combination totaling a maximum 12 years.
This is a change from the current term limits law, and we believe it’s a step in the right direction.
Currently a legislator is allowed to serve a lifetime maximum of six years in the California Assembly and eight years in the state Senate.
In addition to fostering an expensive game of musical chairs in Sacramento, this arrangement has caused many problems for the legislative process and for elected leadership. There is a long learning curve figuring out the Byzantine ways of the Capitol. Inexperienced committee chairs mean messy legislative processes, poor bills, and fewer legislators with the skills needed to negotiate successfully with the Governor.
Passing Proposition 92 will enable our elected representatives to build both policy expertise and legislative skills.
