California Proposition 1C (2009)
Encyclopedia
Proposition 1C was a defeated California
ballot proposition
that appeared on the May 19, 2009 special election
ballot. The measure a legislatively-referred
constitutional amendment that would have made significant changes to the operation of the State Lottery
.
narrowly passed the 2008–2009 state budget
during a special session, months after it was due. As part of the plan to lower the state's annual deficits, the State Legislature ordered a special election with various budget reform ballot propositions, among them Proposition 1C.
The proposition was part of Assembly Bill 12 (Third Extraordinary Session), which was authored by Assemblywoman Noreen Evans
, a Democrat
from Santa Rosa
. The bill passed in the State Assembly
by a vote of 70 to 8 and in the State Senate
by a vote of 30 to 8.
.
The proposal would have also repealed the requirement that State Lottery revenue be used only for education. Instead, the State Legislature could have appropriated State Lottery revenue for any purpose. However, the measure would have required the State Legislature to appropriate general fund revenues to education in an amount equivalent to the State Lottery revenues that went to schools in 2008–2009 fiscal year, adjusted for inflation and changes in student counts.
It would have also revised State Lottery management details, including repealing a competitive bidding requirement for certain State Lottery operations, and lowering the cap on the amount of State Lottery revenue that can be used for administration purposes from 16% to 13% (which was the amount used for administration at the time).
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
ballot proposition
California ballot proposition
In California, a ballot proposition is a proposed law that is submitted to the electorate for approval in a direct vote . It may take the form of a constitutional amendment or an ordinary statute. A ballot proposition may be proposed by the State Legislature or by a petition signed by members of...
that appeared on the May 19, 2009 special election
California state special elections, 2009
The California state special elections, 2009 were held on May 19, 2009 throughout the state of California. The elections were authorized by the State Legislature and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as a part of a budget signed into law on February 19, 2009...
ballot. The measure a legislatively-referred
Legislative referral
A Legislative referral is a form of referendum in which a legislature puts proposed legislation up for popular vote , rather than through the initiative or referendum process...
constitutional amendment that would have made significant changes to the operation of the State Lottery
California State Lottery
The California State Lottery, also known as the California Lottery, began on November 6, 1984, after California voters passed Proposition 37, the California State Lottery Act of 1984, authorizing the creation of a lottery...
.
Background
In February 2009, the State LegislatureCalifornia State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
narrowly passed the 2008–2009 state budget
2008–2009 California budget crisis
The U.S. state of California had, and still currently does have, a budget crisis in which it faced a shortfall of at least $11.2 billion, projected to top $40 billion over the 2009–2010 fiscal years.-2008:...
during a special session, months after it was due. As part of the plan to lower the state's annual deficits, the State Legislature ordered a special election with various budget reform ballot propositions, among them Proposition 1C.
The proposition was part of Assembly Bill 12 (Third Extraordinary Session), which was authored by Assemblywoman Noreen Evans
Noreen Evans
Noreen Evans is an American politician in the California State Senate. She is a Democrat representing the 2nd district, encompassing Humboldt, Mendocino, Lake, and Napa counties, as well as parts of Sonoma and Solano counties....
, a Democrat
California Democratic Party
The California Democratic Party is the state branch of the Democratic Party in the state of California, headquartered in Sacramento. It is chaired by veteran Democratic politician and former United States Representative John L. Burton, who succeeded Art Torres in April 2009. It is the majority...
from Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County, California, United States. The 2010 census reported a population of 167,815. Santa Rosa is the largest city in California's Wine Country and fifth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, after San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont and 26th...
. The bill passed in the State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
by a vote of 70 to 8 and in the State Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
by a vote of 30 to 8.
Proposal
Proposition 1C would have authorized borrowing against future State Lottery proceeds as a way to avoid statewide spending cuts. The 2009–2010 budget plan included $5 billion from this source, and the measure would also have authorized similar borrowing in future years. It did not include a cap on the amount of future lottery revenue that could be pledged to pay for current spending. Essentially, the measure would have allowed a form of deficit spending that would not be subject to the balanced budget provisions adopted by a vote of the people in Proposition 58California Proposition 58 (2004)
Proposition 58 was a California ballot proposition on the March 2, 2004 ballot. It passed with 4,535,084 votes in favor and 1,841,138 against. It was officially called the California Balanced Budget Act...
.
The proposal would have also repealed the requirement that State Lottery revenue be used only for education. Instead, the State Legislature could have appropriated State Lottery revenue for any purpose. However, the measure would have required the State Legislature to appropriate general fund revenues to education in an amount equivalent to the State Lottery revenues that went to schools in 2008–2009 fiscal year, adjusted for inflation and changes in student counts.
It would have also revised State Lottery management details, including repealing a competitive bidding requirement for certain State Lottery operations, and lowering the cap on the amount of State Lottery revenue that can be used for administration purposes from 16% to 13% (which was the amount used for administration at the time).