Proposition 1E - No


AbstractHere

This is part of my ongoing series of posts on each of the Propositions we'll be voting on. Here is the original post, with my ground rules for evaluating propositions, my scorecard and links to each of my arguments.

Proposition 1E - No

Summary - This measure would borrow roughly $4 Billion through bonds to rebuild and repair CA's flood control and drinking supply system.

Commentary - While some notable conservatives' (such as Chuck DeVore and Tom McClintock) support of this measure gives me pause, I think it ultimately fails the test and gets a no vote. The reason why lies in its failure on both Rule #2 and #4.

First objection is rule #2 - it is a bond measure, and therefore unduly expensive. It will, like all the other bond measures, end up costing us twice the actual money spent because of the great expense in servicing the debt. For every dollar we get in repairs, we spend two to fund it. That is simply wasteful, especially when dealing with something so vital to public safety.

Which brings me to the second objection - rule #4. Drinking water is a very vital service and public safety concern here in CA. Most of us live in a desert that would shrivel and dry up if you turn the water off. Flood prevention is another key area, as most of our soil doesn't soak up a lot of water and can be prone to flooding easily. Put these two together and you have a very compelling reason for governmental involvement due to public safety and health concerns.

So ask yourself, why haven't they done this? Why are they asking us to bail them out with an extremely costly bond measure? What special interests have bribed the cash out of the general budget for this? As I've said with the other bond measures, if you bail out legislators with these bond measures then you give them license to continue wasting money in the general fund with little or no oversight. CA is not in good shape financially, and will not be for a long time. Now is not the time for us to be slack on our financial spending, and the best way to ensure that is to give the legislature no way out when it comes to vital services.

Posted: Mon - November 6, 2006 at 08:19 PM | | | | | | |

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