Home Writing Projects Setup CV
Voter Guide

California voter guide: November 2018

My recommendations on California state propositions in the November 2018 election.

My recommendations

Propositions

Proposition 1 NO Proposition 2 YES Proposition 3 NO Proposition 4 NO Proposition 5 NO Proposition 6 NO Proposition 7 YES Proposition 8 NO Proposition 10 NO Proposition 11 YES Proposition 12 YES

Between October 9 and November 6, 2018, Californians had the opportunity to vote on 16 statewide ballot measures. These measures affected taxes, infrastructure, housing, healthcare, and governance.

Guiding principles

  • Vote “no” if the legislature can do it. Ballot measures make government inflexible by requiring more ballot measures to modify them. New taxes and amendments to previous ballot measures must go to the ballot, but when a law can be enacted at the legislature rather than the ballot, it can also be studied and reformed as needed.

  • Vote “no” on budget set-asides, including state general obligation bonds. Budget set-asides reduce legislators’ ability to reprioritize based on changing circumstances and newly available data. California general obligation bonds are also a form of set-aside, since they must be repaid from the General Fund.

  • Vote “no” on tax cuts and “yes” on taxes. California has pressing challenges that can often be addressed with additional tax revenue.

  • Maximize well-being. Whether mitigating the impacts of climate change, creating opportunity for newcomers, or improving medical care, I support public policy that helps as many people as possible.