College partisans talk up measures
Joseph Vasquez / The Collegian
The College Democrats used the Free Speech Area Tuesday to oppose most of the measures on the November ballot. Nancy Griesser (right) of Democrats in Action gives junior English major Griselda Villalvazo proposition information.
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By Chhun Sun
The Collegian
With the California special election on Nov. 8, Fresno State’s College Democrats Monday and Tuesday reminded students of their voting options and provided information about the propositions on the ballot.
At the same time, the campus club’s members want students to vote no on Propositions 74, 75 and 76.
The group took to the Free Speech Area Tuesday during a noon rally against Propositions 74, 75 and 76.
A day earlier, the group bought a representative from Planned Parenthood in Fresno to discuss Proposition 73, which would require doctors to notify a parent or guardian at least 48 hours before performing an abortion on a minor.
Meanwhile, the College Republicans urged students to vote as well, but recommended they vote yes on Propositions 74, 75, 76 and 77.
“These four propositions add accountability to the system,” said President Tal Eslick. “Prop 74 adds accountability to the classrooms, 75 to union members and 76 to the legislators and 77 adds accountability to the whole system.
“Across the board, it’s good to have participation and have different opinions in the mix,” Eslick said.
Monday and Tuesday the College Democrats asked students to vote no on Propositions 73 to 78, and yes on 79 and 80.
“Some people don’t know that nurses, teachers, firefighters and other public service workers will be affected and how important it is to vote,” said Evelyn Gutierrez, president of the College Democrats, referring to Propositions 74, 75 and 76.
For the most part, Tuesday’s rally was low-key with a few students approaching the two tables on the free speech platform to pick up pamphlets and get more information about the propositions.
Two members from the California Faculty Association and the People Organized for Women’s Empowerment and Representation spoke at the event, repeating the message of the College Democrats to get informed and vote.
“It’s extremely mellow right now, but we’re trying to get to students that they have an option to vote,” said William Buttry, vice president of the College Democrats.
Proposition Breakdown:
•Proposition 73 (Parental Notification about Abortion) would require a doctor to notify a parent or guardian at least 48 hours before performing an abortion on a pregnant minor, with the exceptions of medical emergencies or if the minor gets approval from juvenile court.
•Proposition 74 (Public School Teachers) would raise the trial period for new teachers to five years instead of two years. It would make it easier to fire a permanent teacher who has received two unsatisfactory evaluations in a row.
Proposition 75 (Government Employee Union Dues) would do require government employee unions to get written agreement from each worker before using that worker’s dues or nonmembers’ fees for political purposes.
•Proposition 76 (State Budget and School Funding) would change how the state budget is managed. It would: 1) add a new spending limit. State spending would be limited to the last year’s spending plus an average of the past 3-years’ income growth 2) give the governor greater power to cut state spending. If state income falls below expected levels, the Legislature would have 45 days to fix the problem. If the Legislature and governor could not agree on a solution, then the governor would have the power to cut programs and 3) change how the minimum funding level is calculated for schools and community colleges.
•Proposition 77 (Political Districts) would change the State Constitution to give authority for setting up political district lines every 10 years to a panel of three retired judges, instead of the state legislature.
•Proposition 78 (Prescription Drug Discounts) would create a new drug discount program for people who do not already have coverage from a government program or private insurance.
•Proposition79 (Prescription Drug Discounts and Medi-Cal) would create a new drug discount program for people not in Medi-Cal or Healthy Families.
•Proposition80 (Regulation of Electric Service) would increase state control (regulation) over California’s electricity market and make it harder to reduce state control.
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