OPPOSE PROPOSITIONS 53 AND 54

October 6, 2003

To the Editor:

The League of Women Voters of California opposes Proposition 53--Funds Dedicated for State and Local Infrastructure. This measure is the wrong way to pay for public works projects. Legislators would allocate funds, half to state and half to local projects of their choice, with no requirement for funding the projects of greatest need and no accountability. K-12 schools and community colleges would be excluded. Prop 53 does not provide new revenue but simply earmarks funds, even if that means cuts for essential health care, education, public safety, or other programs. Transfers from the General Fund might still be required, reducing the state's flexibility in setting priorities.

The League also opposes Proposition 54--Classification by Race, Ethnicity, Color, or National Origin. This Constitutional Amendment would ban state and local governments from using information essential to public health, education reforms, crime prevention, and civil rights enforcement--even though much of this data would still have to be collected to meet federal mandates. The medical "exemption" is poorly written, will invite litigation, and could jeopardize the use of information important in fighting many illnesses. More than 40 health organizations agree that Proposition 54 is "bad medicine" for all Californians.

Sincerely,

Beverly G. Bean, VMD
President, League of Women Voters of the Monterey Peninsula