Voters say yes to majority of propositions

By Carrie Porche Jones, On-Line Forty-Niner

Wednesday, November 4, 1998

Proposition 5, the Indian gaming initiative, was passed Tuesday by 61 percent of voters in favor.

Nearly $100 million was spent on advertising for and against the proposition that allows Indians to keep the Las-Vegas style gaming they now have on their reservations.

Voters chose education with the passage of Proposition 1A with 69 percent in favor. This proposition provides funds to improve California schools and replenish state matching funds for improvements and expansion of local schools and state universities, including improvements at Cal State Long Beach.

Proposition 1, which allows replacement and repair of environmentally-contaminated properties and structures without increasing property taxes, was passed by 71 percent of voters.

The open primary that California voters first experienced last June allowing them to vote across party lines will remain in place with the defeat of Proposition 3 by 55 percent of voters. With its passage, the state would have returned to the closed partisan primary.

The two most emotional propositions, Proposition 4 that imposes a ban on certain animal traps and poisons and Proposition 6 that prohibits the slaughter of horses and the sale of horsemeat for human consumption, were approved by 55 and 60 percent of voters, respectively.

Proposition 7, that would have reduced air emissions by allowing $218 million in state tax credits to encourage the retrofit of facilities and vehicles and facilitating the controlled burning of forests and lands to reduce wildfires, was defeated by 58 percent of voters.

Proposition 8, that was intended to reduce classroom pupil size by the establishment of governing councils of parents and teachers and to allow suspension of students for drug possession, was rejected by 61 percent of voters.

The confusing Proposition 9, which was an attempt to undo a portion of the recently-enacted legislation deregulating the electric power industry, was voted down by 73 percent of voters.

Despite support from the American Cancer Society, Proposition 10 that would have levied a 50-cent tax on cigarettes to produce revenues for early childhood development programs, was defeated with 52 percent opposing.

Proposition 11, which allows cities to share municipal revenues, was passed by 53 percent of California voters