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On May 19th, Californians will be asked to vote on a series of measures determining where state budget funds can be allocated. This special election set up by Governor Schwarzenegger was cast as a way to involve the public in budget decision making – however, in recent days the Governor has warned that if the propositions fail, he will be forced to trim other programs. The May 19th ballot has a total of six state-wide propositions including 1A and 1B which are strategically linked to determine the fate of the education budget. Proposition 1A, which is the center-piece of the budget measures, would temporarily extend tax increases to help with a $42 billion budget shortfall, impose new spending restrictions, and increase the size of a “rainy day” fund to more than 12% of the general fund. Prop 1B, which will be valid only if voters pass it _and_ 1A, requires supplemental payments totaling $9.3 billion for K-14 institutions to make up for recent cuts in the education budget. Prop 1B was devised by lawmakers and linked to 1A as a way to gain the support of teachers unions for both propositions. But likely voters according to a recent poll, are turned off by all but one of the six propositions. Propositions 1A-1E are all set to fail at the ballot – 1F, which caps lawmakers’ salaries in lean years is the only one looking like it may pass.

GUEST: Jessica Levinson, Adjunct professor Loyola Law School, teaches campaign finance law and is the Director of Political Reform at the Center for Governmental Studies . For more information, visit www.cgs.org.