According to the official description, Prop 28 -- "Reduces the total amount of time a person may serve in the state legislature from 14 years to 12 years.  Allows a person to serve a total of 12 years either in the Assembly, the Senate, or a combination of both."  Further, Prop 28 -- "Applies only to legislators first elected after the measure is passed." (Emphasis ours.)

In short, this is a 2-year term reduction ... but only for those not yet elected.

In 1990, California voters imposed term limits in the belief that shorter terms would motivate legislators, who could no longer turn a Legislative seat into a lifelong career, to be more responsive to voters.  In actuality, the result is a Legislature composed of relative novices whose experience and knowledge tend to be shallow, and there is no motivation or opportunity to deepen that knowledge.  These novices are easily led by lobbyists and special (monied) interests, whose influence is now all the greater, because they can donate or withhold funds for campaigns for higher office -- or give a legislator a high-paying job after the terms have expired. 

Voters deserve and need to be able to choose whether to keep a valued official in office -- or vote out the inept and corrupt.  Vote NO on Prop 28.

This Proposition increases the taxes currently paid by smokers by 5 cents per cigarette, or an additional $1.00 per pack.  Current taxes would more than double.  If Prop 29 passes, a new research fund would be established, with a new nine-member committee created to administer the fund.

The Diablo Greens (some of whom are smokers) have supported past taxes on cigarettes as a way to educate people on the dangers of tobacco as well as help deal with the health and environmental effects of this product.  The taxes proposed by Prop 29, however, are both exorbitant and regressive.  Existing taxes have, indeed, resulted in a reduction in smoking.  It is wrong to further punish those who can least afford more taxes at a time when so many of us continue to suffer the effects of The Great Recession -- and when those who can afford to pay more are paying less.

Further, Prop 29 would add a new layer of politically-appointed bureaucracy -- not appropriate given the deficit and the current state of the economy.  This committee will provide zero dollars for treatment.  It cannot re-assign any monies to our state's General Fund under any circumstances.  The committee can, however -- guided only by vague criteria -- send millions to big pharmaceutical interests outside of California.   Vote NO on Prop 29.