Hollywood Chamber Announces Positions on November 2016 Ballot Initiatives
October 03, 2016
On Tuesday, November 8th, voters across the State will be asked to vote on a series of important Ballot measures. With much at stake for the California Business Community, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce encourages all of our members to make sure to get out and vote!
The final day to register to vote in the November General Election will be Monday, October 24th. You may register vote online at the California Secretary of State’s Voter Registration page or by calling the Secretary of State’s voter hotline: (800) 345-VOTE(8683) to request a paper application.
Not sure if you already registered to vote? No problem! If you reside in the Los Angeles County, check your status at the Los Angeles County Registrar or call (800)815-2666. For all other counties, visit the California Secretary of State’s Registration Status page. Also note that if you have recently moved to a new location or have legally changed your name, you are required to re-register to vote.
To date, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has taken official positions on the following November 2016 Ballot Initiatives:
Support Proposition 52
State Fees on Hospitals. Federal Medi-Cal Matching Funds
Initiative Statutory and Constitutional Amendment. Extends indefinitely an existing statute that imposes fees on hospitals to obtain federal matching funds. Uses fees to fund Medi-Cal health care services, care for uninsured patients, and children’s health coverage. Requires voter approval to change use of fees or funds. Permits other amendments or repeal by Legislature with a two-thirds vote. Declares fee proceeds do not count as revenue toward state spending limit or Proposition 98 funding requirement.
Oppose Proposition 53
Revenue Bonds. Statewide Voter Approval. Initiative Constitutional Amendment
Requires statewide voter approval before any revenue bonds can be issued or sold by the state for projects that are financed, owned, operated, or managed by the state or any joint agency created by or including the state, if the bond amount exceeds $2 billion. Prohibits dividing projects into multiple separate projects to avoid statewide voter approval requirement. Proposition 53 is opposed by the Chamber because it takes away local control by requiring a statewide vote even for some local infrastructure projects. The measure would add new layers of bureaucracy and red tape that will delay or derail needed improvements to critical infrastructure, including after emergencies and natural disasters.
Support Proposition 56
Cigarette Tax to Fund Healthcare, Tobacco Use Prevention, Research, and Law Enforcement. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
Increases cigarette tax by $2.00 per pack, with equivalent increase on other tobacco products and electronic cigarettes containing nicotine. Allocates revenues primarily to increase funding for existing healthcare programs; also for tobacco use prevention/control programs, tobacco-related disease research and law enforcement, University of California physician training, dental disease prevention programs, and administration. Excludes these revenues from Proposition 98 funding requirements. If tax causes decreased tobacco consumption, transfers tax revenues to offset decreases to existing tobacco-funded programs and sales tax revenues. Requires biennial audit.
Oppose Proposition 61
State Prescription , Drug Purchases. Pricing Standards. Initiative Statute.
Prohibits state agencies from paying more for a prescription drug than the lowest price paid for the same drug by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Applies to any program where the state is the ultimate payer for a drug, even if the state does not purchase the drug directly. Exempts certain purchases of prescription drugs funded through Medi-Cal. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce opposes this initiative which would be bad for patients, harmful for veterans and expensive for taxpayers. Independent experts warn the measure could increase state prescription drug costs, while reducing patient access to medicines.
Additional Ballot Measures will be considered prior to the November election. Stay tuned for further announcements. For more information on these important November Ballot Initiatives, please contact the Hollywood Chamber Vice President of Public Policy, Nicole Shahenian at Nicole@Hollywoodchamber.net
The final day to register to vote in the November General Election will be Monday, October 24th. You may register vote online at the California Secretary of State’s Voter Registration page or by calling the Secretary of State’s voter hotline: (800) 345-VOTE(8683) to request a paper application.
Not sure if you already registered to vote? No problem! If you reside in the Los Angeles County, check your status at the Los Angeles County Registrar or call (800)815-2666. For all other counties, visit the California Secretary of State’s Registration Status page. Also note that if you have recently moved to a new location or have legally changed your name, you are required to re-register to vote.
To date, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has taken official positions on the following November 2016 Ballot Initiatives:
Support Proposition 52
State Fees on Hospitals. Federal Medi-Cal Matching Funds
Initiative Statutory and Constitutional Amendment. Extends indefinitely an existing statute that imposes fees on hospitals to obtain federal matching funds. Uses fees to fund Medi-Cal health care services, care for uninsured patients, and children’s health coverage. Requires voter approval to change use of fees or funds. Permits other amendments or repeal by Legislature with a two-thirds vote. Declares fee proceeds do not count as revenue toward state spending limit or Proposition 98 funding requirement.
Oppose Proposition 53
Revenue Bonds. Statewide Voter Approval. Initiative Constitutional Amendment
Requires statewide voter approval before any revenue bonds can be issued or sold by the state for projects that are financed, owned, operated, or managed by the state or any joint agency created by or including the state, if the bond amount exceeds $2 billion. Prohibits dividing projects into multiple separate projects to avoid statewide voter approval requirement. Proposition 53 is opposed by the Chamber because it takes away local control by requiring a statewide vote even for some local infrastructure projects. The measure would add new layers of bureaucracy and red tape that will delay or derail needed improvements to critical infrastructure, including after emergencies and natural disasters.
Support Proposition 56
Cigarette Tax to Fund Healthcare, Tobacco Use Prevention, Research, and Law Enforcement. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
Increases cigarette tax by $2.00 per pack, with equivalent increase on other tobacco products and electronic cigarettes containing nicotine. Allocates revenues primarily to increase funding for existing healthcare programs; also for tobacco use prevention/control programs, tobacco-related disease research and law enforcement, University of California physician training, dental disease prevention programs, and administration. Excludes these revenues from Proposition 98 funding requirements. If tax causes decreased tobacco consumption, transfers tax revenues to offset decreases to existing tobacco-funded programs and sales tax revenues. Requires biennial audit.
Oppose Proposition 61
State Prescription , Drug Purchases. Pricing Standards. Initiative Statute.
Prohibits state agencies from paying more for a prescription drug than the lowest price paid for the same drug by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Applies to any program where the state is the ultimate payer for a drug, even if the state does not purchase the drug directly. Exempts certain purchases of prescription drugs funded through Medi-Cal. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce opposes this initiative which would be bad for patients, harmful for veterans and expensive for taxpayers. Independent experts warn the measure could increase state prescription drug costs, while reducing patient access to medicines.
Additional Ballot Measures will be considered prior to the November election. Stay tuned for further announcements. For more information on these important November Ballot Initiatives, please contact the Hollywood Chamber Vice President of Public Policy, Nicole Shahenian at Nicole@Hollywoodchamber.net
Contact:
Hollywood Chamber
info@hollywoodchamber.net, (323) 469-8311