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Voters' chance to rescue state
We all know that Democrats and Republicans in Sacramento have severely mishandled the state's budget crisis the past several years. Unfortunately, their ineptness has forced voters in the May 19 special election to consider solutions to California's fiscal problems that are less than perfect.
The choices didn't have to be this bad, and that has increased the cynicism toward state government. But now we need to work our way out of this mess. It would be easy to let our anger at the politicians prevail, and vote "no" on the six ballot measures the Democrats, Republicans and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger put on the special election ballot.
But while some may think they are punishing the politicians by rejecting the budget package, that tactic would also damage the state even further, and leave it with a much larger deficit.
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Voters’ chance to rescue state
We all know that Democrats and Republicans in Sacramento have severely mishandled the state’s budget crisis the past several years. Unfortunately, their ineptness has forced voters in the May 19 special election to consider solutions to California’s fiscal problems that are less than perfect.
The choices didn’t have to be this bad, and that has increased the cynicism toward state government. But now we need to work our way out of this mess. It would be easy to let our anger at the politicians prevail, and vote “no” on the six ballot measures the Democrats, Republicans and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger put on the special election ballot.
But while some may think they are punishing the politicians by rejecting the budget package, that tactic would also damage the state even further, and leave it with a much larger deficit.
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Yes on Prop. 1A
A great deal is at stake with Proposition 1A, the high-speed rail bond on the November ballot. Jobs, cleaner air, reduced dependence on oil, a convenient and efficient alternative to driving and flying -- for all these reasons, a "yes" vote makes perfect sense for Californians.
Some of the opposition to the $9.95 billion bond comes from predictable sources -- groups backed by the oil industry, for instance. They seek to defend a status quo that is crumbling rapidly.
Sadly, much opposition has come from people who say they like the idea of 220-mph trains zipping up and down the state, but don't think we can afford it right now, in a time of budget disaster and economic crisis.
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Prop. 84 good for Valley
We have an important opportunity to bring much-needed funds to our Valley for clean water, river restoration and urban parks by voting "yes" on Proposition 84.
Proposition 84, the Clean Water Parks and Coastal Protection Bond, will direct $36 million to the San Joaquin River Parkway to purchase river lands and build hiking and biking trails. The measure also provides critical funding for clean water in rural Valley towns and protection of the coast and other natural resources that are vital for our health, economy and quality of life.
The Valley is facing enormous population growth in the coming years. We must make the investment now to ensure that all Californians will have access to safe drinking water, better protection from floods and opportunities to enjoy parks, natural landscapes and our rivers, lakes and beaches. Proposition 84 will do this.
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EDITORIAL: Bill would benefit hospitals
In this time of state budget crisis, California should be shaking every tree it can find to avoid big cuts at home. One area is health care.
California has a big opportunity to leverage federal stimulus dollars to help hospitals that serve the state's poorest residents and to provide health coverage to uninsured children. That is, if Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signs Assembly Bill 1383 by Assemblyman Dave Jones, D-Sacramento.
This bill revives a key portion of Schwarzenegger's health care reform proposal of the last session: a hospital fee.
In the San Joaquin Valley, we are very familiar with the good work of Children's Hospital Central California, and its struggles to find the funding to meet the growing health needs of the region's children. It's part of a network of children's hospitals around the state that ensures all of California's children have access to quality health care.
While these hospitals have broad support from California residents, health care isn't cheap. Children's and the other 12 hospitals with the same mission desperately need funding to upgrade their facilities. Proposition 3 on the Nov. 4 ballot would provide $980 million in bonds for the eight regional hospitals and the five children's hospitals affiliated with the University of California. We urge a "yes" vote on Proposition 3.
The measure would provide up to $98 million for each of the eight regional hospitals, and the five UC children's hospitals would each get just under $39 million. This bond is an investment in the state's future.
Sponsors of Proposition 3 point out that more than a million times each year, the hospitals treat the most serious injuries and illnesses of our children, and a family's ability to pay for this care is not part of the equation. That is only right, but it takes substantial funding to pay for hospital operations and expand the facilities to meet the growing health needs in this diverse state.
We are confident this bond money will be spent properly, and you can look to the track record of the children's hospitals as evidence. The 2004 children's hospital bond measure, which passed with 58% of the vote, has been wisely spent by the hospitals.
But that money is running out and the capital needs of the children's hospitals far exceed the funds from the bond of four years ago.
You can help the hospitals in their important mission to California's children by voting "yes" on Proposition 3.
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