HispanicVista Columnists

By Hector M. Barajas

Between 1998 and 2000, the union representing prison guards contributed over $3.4 million to Gray Davis, then Governor of California. During that time, prison guards received a contract that resulted in an estimated 34% increase to their salaries. The cost of that to Californians is an additional $518 million every year.

In 2002, a Gray Davis spokesman, proclaimed that “the governor does not make decisions based on who gives him a contribution,” and while our state was facing an economic and an energy crisis, Davis was raising $1,800 an hour, 24 hours a day, including $117,000 from Enron. Davis also raised $3 million from donors who sought appointments to state boards and commissions.

In 2003, Democratic legislators met behind closed doors to develop a plan to stall the budget for political gain. Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, representing Silverlake and Echo Park, said “if the budget crisis were extended, it could improve chances for a ballot initiative that would make it easier for Democrats to raise taxes.” They abandoned the plan when it was found that their discussions happened in front of a microphone broadcasting their discussion throughout the Capitol building.

Instances like these show that our scale of checks and balances is topped so far out of kilter that nothing but a special election can rectify the system our government is based on.

While you hear ads on TV and radio defending the status quo in California, remember it is the special interests who are spending $100 million to distort the truth, manipulate perceptions, hide the agendas and ultimately defeat the initiatives on the November 8^th Special Election Ballot.

The November Special Election is about:

· Limiting state expenditures to no more than what the state collects. Between 1998 and 2004 the state legislature increased overall spending by 44%, from $75 billion to $108 billion, but our annual revenues only increased by 25%.

· Ensuring that the political perspectives of the minority are not expressed as the opinion of the majority. Police officers, fire fighters, nurses and teachers, not union bosses, should be the ones to decide how their union dues are spent.

· Taking the power to redraw legislative districts out of the hands of self-interested politicians. Right now, communities are divided for political gain not collective empowerment. The last time the state redrew its districts, politicians became more entrenched rather than changing according to demographic shifts in the population.

· Increasing accountability among our state’s teachers. It will improve our educational system by ensuring new teachers work successfully for five years before they get a job for life. This will provide our school system and our children with more capable, qualified and proven teachers.

This election will determine the level of influence that political action committees, unions and special interest groups will have on future legislation. This election will define the expectations of California teachers. This election will delineate the role of communities in politics. This election will define the state’s debts, and the obligations we pass to our children.

We have an opportunity to increase accountability, empower communities, send a message to legislators and wrest control of our pocketbooks from political forces gone amok.

Vote in November to restore a balanced perspective to California politics, vote Yes on Propositions 74-77 on November 8^th.
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Hector M. Barajas is the Deputy Political Director of the California Republican Party Contact at: hbarajas@cagop.org