Updated at 9 a.m.
California voters approved about half of the 11 ballot
measures they faced at the polls.
Measures that
Passed:
It was a major win for California Governor Jerry Brown, as
Californians approved Proposition 30 - his sales and income tax
measure.
Californians also approved Proposition 35, which increases
penalties for human trafficking…and 36, which changes the state's
three strikes law to allow for shorter sentences in some
cases.
Voters gave the go-ahead to Proposition 39, which changes the
way multi-state corporations pay California tax; many will pay
more.
And Californians overwhelmingly
approved Proposition 40, which was a referendum of the
state's new Senate district map. That means the current lines
drawn by the citizen's commission will stand.
Measures that
Failed:
California voters rejected Proposition 31, which
would have changed the state budget process.
They also rejected Proposition 32, which would have
banned campaign contributions from corporations and
unions.
It was the most expensive battle on November's ballot. More
than 120 million dollars was raised to both fight and support the
measure.
Jake Suski is spokesman for the "Yes on 32"
campaign.
"The unions and the big
corporations were in adamant opposition to Prop 32 and the unions
spent over 70 million dollars fighting it, and at the end of the
day those special interests came out as victors in this
election."
While labor led the No on Prop. 32 fight, businesses and
wealthy Republicans funded the opposing campaign.
Voters also rejected Proposition 33, which would
have let auto insurers charge drivers based on their history of
coverage.
Proposition 34 , which would repeal the death penalty -
is trailing, but too close to call. Voters
rejected Proposition. 37, which would have required labels on
products containing genetically modified ingredients.
And they said "no" to Proposition 38, the tax
measure that billed itself as a better alternative to Governor
Brown's measure.
---Original story:
Three Strikes
California voters have approved reforming the nation's toughest
three strikes law to allow for shorter sentences.
Proposition 36 eliminates 25 years-to-life sentences for inmates
whose third felony conviction is not a serious or violent crime.
Dan Newman, with the "Yes on 36" campaign, says the change will
save the state millions of dollars.
Newman: "It's a great victory for California taxpayers to
keep communities safe because we can focus those law enforcement
resources on violent and dangerous criminals instead of wasting
money the way we were under this flaw in the law."
Previously, any felony conviction, no matter how minor,
triggered the automatic sentence for an offender with two previous
felony convictions.
Opponents argued the law needed no alteration and was meant to
punish California's habitual offenders.
An effort to repeal California's death penalty appears headed
for defeat.
Death Penalty
Proposition 34 would have replaced the death penalty with life
without the possibility of parole.
Supporters of the repeal say the state is wasting money on
special housing and taxpayer financed appeals for inmates on death
row.
But Peter DeMarco, the spokesman for the "No on Prop 34"
campaign, says it appears that voters don't buy that argument.
DeMarco: "In the onslaught of millions of dollars in
misleading advertising and claims that were never substantiated we
had a very strong message that said stand with the victims and
their families."
DeMarco says guaranteeing murderers lifetime housing and
healthcare would cost taxpayers more money.
With 75-percent of precincts reporting, the proposition was
failing 46 to 53-percent.
Others
For the second time in three years, California voters have
rejected a ballot initiative that would have let auto insurers
charge drivers based on their history of maintaining
coverage.
Proposition 33 failed with about 55 percent voting against
it.
Voters also rejected Prop 37 which would have required labels on
products containing genetically modified ingredients.
Californians voted in favor of Prop 35, increasing human
trafficking penalties.
And Proposition 39, which ends a tax break for some
businesses, passed.
It's expected to generate about a billion dollars a year
