Prop. 93 -- Term Limits 
Recommendation: NO 
Write-up author: Bob Marsh, Alameda County

Proposition 93 -- The "Keep Perata and Nunez in Office" Initiative: NO! NO! NO!

This initiative is one of the most cynical ones to hit our ballot in years.
The current President pro-tem of the California Senate, Don Perata, and
Speaker of the Assembly, Fabian Nunez, are both termed-out next year. They
and their legislative cronies have created an extremely clever and deceptive
plan to keep themselves in office for another four years. This measure
masquerades as a way to shorten term limits, but in reality would allow both
Senators and Assembly to stay in office for from four to six years longer!

The legislature put this measure on the Presidential Primary ballot,
cleverly taking advantage of our unusual 3-election year in 2008. If the
measure passes in February, then all the legislators who would otherwise be
at the end of their terms will be able to run in the
certain-to-be-a-very-low turnout June State Primary. If it fails, they can run.

If this initiative passes, term limits will only be shorter for those
legislators who might be lucky enough to hold seats in both the Assembly and
Senate. An Assembymember who stays in their completely safe seat (due to our
totally corrupt and jerrymandered election system) will be able to stay in
office twice as long, twelve years instead of the six now allowed.

We find the proponents arguments flawed. They claim that studies have shown
that legislators are now more likely to be fiscally irresponsible with
shorter terms, but can anyone remember a time when our Demopublican/Republicrat 
legislature was responsible? They claim it takes many terms for legislators to 
understand how the system works. Are our representatives so stupid that it takes 
longer than one year (let alone six) to learn how to do a job they've worked 
for years to get?

In any case, virtually all research and voting decisions are determined by
the Party caucuses and staff, and forced on legislature members by Party
leadership. Looking at roll call votes on virtually any measure, there is
very little sign of independent action or  thinking by any individual member
of either Party. Most vote results strictly follow Party lines.

Perata and Nunez are behind the dangerous and deceptive mandatory health
insurance proposal that is the Democrats' plan to sabotage true universal
health care. Perata was the author of the bill that re-categorized
publicly-owned Oakland shoreline to make it available to his greedy
developer buddies. Perata has been under investigation by the FBI for some
time for campaign practices and financing irregularities.

Put Perata out to pasture. Nip Nunez's need for new power. Vote NO on 9!