EDITORIAL FOUR GOOD ONES AND A DUD VOTE NO ON PROP. 40; YES ON PROPS. 41, 42, 43 AND 44.AT their best, ballot initiatives give California California (kăl'ĭfôr`nyə), most populous state in the United States, located in the Far West; bordered by Oregon (N), Nevada and, across the Colorado River, Arizona (E), Mexico (S), and the Pacific Ocean (W). voters a chance to go over the heads of unresponsive unresponsive Neurology adjective Referring to a total lack of response to neurologic stimuli politicians. At their worst, they become a vehicle for the politicians to trick the public - this year's Prop. 45 is a case in point. (See the editorial above.) There are five other statewide propositions on Tuesday's ballot, four worthwhile, and one that's another wolf in sheep's clothing. First, for the wolf: Prop. 40, the California Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhoods and Coastal Protection Bond Act. Behind that pretty name is an ugly piece of legislation that would create $2.6 billion in state debt. Voters passed an almost identical measure, Prop. 12, two years ago. It's too soon to go back to taxpayers again when the first measure has yet to produce results. The Daily News urges a no vote. But there is a bond measure on this month's ballot worth supporting, and that's Prop. 41. It would provide $200 million for counties to upgrade their voting machines voting machine, instrument for recording and counting votes. The voting machine itself is generally positioned in a booth, often closed off by a curtain to assure secrecy for the voter. . The old punch-card machines currently used throughout L.A. County will be decertified in 2006. That means the county must start replacing them immediately, and a state subsidy subsidy, financial assistance granted by a government or philanthropic foundation to a person or association for the purpose of promoting an enterprise considered beneficial to the public welfare. (which would qualify for federal matching funds Noun 1. matching funds - funds that will be supplied in an amount matching the funds available from other sources cash in hand, finances, funds, monetary resource, pecuniary resource - assets in the form of money ) would greatly reduce the cost. Vote yes on Prop. 41. Prop. 42 would ensure that the sales tax sales tax, levy on the sale of goods or services, generally calculated as a percentage of the selling price, and sometimes called a purchase tax. It is usually collected in the form of an extra charge by the retailer, who remits the tax to the government. Californians pay on gas would be spent on transportation. Given the state's atrocious roads, a yes on 42 is clearly in order. If passed, Prop. 43 would protect against messy mess·y adj. mess·i·er, mess·i·est 1. Disorderly and dirty: a messy bedroom. 2. Exhibiting or demonstrating carelessness: messy reasoning. election outcomes like Florida 2000. In a close election, it would give judges the right to suspend vote-counting deadlines until every ballot has been counted. The law might never need to be used, but just in case, voters would be wise to put it on the books. Two years ago, the state passed a tough insurance-fraud law that applies to doctors, lawyers and other professionals. Chiropractors weren't included because a 1920s law requires that changes in their regulatory status must be approved by the voters. Prop. 44 would make chiropractors subject to the same laws as everyone else. It's a matter of fairness. The Daily News recommends a yes vote. |
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