2008 California Proposition 3

none Proposition 3, the Children's Hospital Bond Act of 2008, is a law that was enacted by California voters by means of the initiative process. It is a bond issue that authorizes $980 million in bonds, to be repaid from state's General Fund, to fund the construction, expansion, remodeling, renovation, furnishing and equipping of children's hospitals. The annual payment on the debt authorized by the initiative is approximately $64 million a year. Altogether, the measure would cost about $1.9 billion over 30 years out of California's general fund.http://www.dailybreeze.com/opinions/ci_10586489 Daily Breeze, "PROP. 3: HEALTH CARE: Measure would expand hospital funding", September 28, 2008 October 7, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081011100532/http://www.dailybreeze.com/opinions/ci_10586489 October 11, 2008 dead The initiative was presented to the Attorney-General's office in July 2007 and the measure was put to a vote as part of the 4 November 2008 state elections.Mercury News, Bond measure to improve children's hospitals on ballot, May 10, 2008 It now forms Part 6.1 of the Health and Safety Code. A smaller, but similar, bond measure for hospitals, Proposition 61, was approved by voters in 2004, totalling $750 million. As of June 1, 2008, about $403 million (just over half the total sum) had been spent. Campaign Estimate of fiscal impact The Legislative Analyst estimated that the proposed law would cost about $2 billion over thirty years to pay off both the principal ($980 million) and the interest ($933 million) costs of the bonds. Payments of about $64 million per year would be required. Supporters The official committee supporting the initiative was called the California Children's Hospital Association Initiative Fund. The campaign to enact the measure was largely supported by hospitalsall donors to the campaign of over $5,000 were such institutions.Large donors to the Children's Hospital Bond Act campaign fund It was argued that passing the initiative would help provide the hospitals with enough money for greater bed capacity and to purchase important equipment as well as the most modern technologies.Aztec Times, "Proposition 3 asks Californians to allot $980 million for hospitals; Children's Hospital Bond Act Grant Program will cost $64 million per year", September 4, 2008April 2019 InternetArchiveBot yes The Los Angeles Times editorialized in favor.Los Angeles Times, "Yes on California bonds; Bullet trains, children's healthcare and veterans' housing all deserve support", October 2, 2008 Arno Political Consultants was paid about $1,028,000 to conduct the petition drive that qualified the measure for the ballot.Expenditure details Opponents The National Tax Limitation Committee, chaired by Lew Uhler, was the official committee opposed to the measure. The Appeal-Democrathttp://www.appeal-democrat.com/articles/debt_69179___article.html/billion_california.html Appeal-Democrat, "Our View: Wrong way to fund a good cause", September 27, 2008 October 7, 2008 https://archive.today/20120722173723/http://www.appeal-democrat.com/articles/debt_69179___article.html/billion_california.html July 22, 2012 dead mdy-all and the Pasadena Star Newshttp://www.pasadenastarnews.com/opinions/ci_10593142 Pasadena Star News, "Vote 'no' on Prop. 3", September 30, 2008 October 7, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081009204848/http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/opinions/ci_10593142 October 9, 2008 dead mdy-all editorialized against the measure. Against the measure it was argued that Proposition 3 would be a misuse of the public ballot system by special interests The measure would allow money to go to hospitals that were not children's hospitals. The same special interest groups as supported Proposition 3 had supported the passage of the similar Proposition 61, and half of that money remained unspent. Polling Month of Poll Polling company In Favor Opposed Undecided September 2008 Field 47 percent 35 percent 18 percent A Field Poll taken in mid-September found that only 18% of 830 likely voters surveyed across the state had heard of Proposition 3 prior to being told of it by the survey interviewer.http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/1275878.html Sacramento Bee, "Field Poll: Voters who've heard of Proposition 3 tend to favor it", September 30, 2008 October 7, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081009191043/http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/1275878.html October 9, 2008 dead mdy-all Result of vote thumb|250px|Election results by county. Proposition 3http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2008-general/sov_complete.pdf Statement of Vote: 2008 General Election PDF California Secretary of State 2008-12-13 2013-02-17 https://web.archive.org/web/20130506165548/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2008-general/sov_complete.pdf 2013-05-06 dead 6984319 12638905 5654586 79.42 1104272 See also California Health and Safety Code References Further reading State Proposition 3 would fund children's hospitals Children's hospitals seek more bond money with Prop 3 External links Full text of Proposition 3 Imagine With Us, official website supporting Prop 3. California Voter's Guide for Proposition 3 Official Ballot Text Committee filing for the California Children's Hospital Association Initiative Fund CaliforniaPropositions.org Prop 3 information page California Voter Online guide to Proposition 3 Smart Voter Guide to Proposition 3 3