February 8, 2024
Golden State Republican Women
Janet Price, President
Submitted by the GSRW Legislative Analyst Committee
Valerie Evans, Lou Ann Flaherty and Elaine Freeman,
The Ballots are arriving!
Below are several sources of information to aid in voter decision making:
- California GOP Endorsements:
https://www.cagop.org/s/endorsements
2. Each candidate has a link to their personal website for additional information
- Ballotpedia
https://ballotpedia.org/Sample_Ballot_Lookup
- Enter your address and view your sample ballot
- You can then review the candidates and drill down for their backgrounds
- Craig Huey
https://craighuey.com/california-voter-guide/
Craig Huey’s Evaluation Process:
Ratings: Every candidate is considered after thorough research; we also have a questionnaire for candidates to complete.
Our highest ratings go to candidates who will defend freedom, stand for free enterprise, or have a conservative worldview based on their ability to stand firm against efforts to increase taxes, size of government, weaken law and order, and crush individual freedom. Here is our rating system:
***** The best candidate. Our strongest endorsement
**** Very good
*** Acceptable
** Vote only to prevent worse candidate(s) from winning
* Terrible. Do Not Vote. All your other votes will count
a. Click on your California County and review the input
BE AWARE: Proposition 1 is now called STATE MEASURE 1
California Proposition 1, the Behavioral Health Services Program and Bond Measure is on the ballot in California as a legislatively referred state statute on March 5, 2024.[1][2][3][4]
| A “yes” vote supports:
· renaming the Mental Health Services Act (2004) to the Behavioral Health Services Act and expanding its purpose to include substance use disorders, including for persons without a mental illness; · changing how revenue from the 1% tax on income above $1 million is spent under the law, including requiring 30% of the Behavioral Health Services Fund be allocated to housing intervention programs; · increasing the size of the oversight commission from 16 to 27 voting members; and · issuing $6.38 billion in bonds to fund housing for homeless individuals and veterans, including up to $4.4 billion for mental health care and drug or alcohol treatment facilities and $2.0 billion for housing for homeless persons. |
| A “no” vote opposes changing the Mental Health Services Act and issuing $6.38 billion in bonds for homeless individuals and veterans. |
Overview
How would Proposition 1 change mental health services in California?
See also: Measure design
Proposition 1 amends the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), which was adopted with the approval of Proposition 63 in 2004. Proposition 63 enacted an additional 1% tax on income above $1 million and dedicated the revenue to counties to fund mental health services and programs. Senate Bill 326 would rename the MHSA to the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA). Proposition 1 would also expand the act to include treatment for substance use disorders. It would change how county mental health plans are required to spend revenue from the 1% tax and increase the number of members on the oversight commission of the act.[3]
What would the bond measure proceeds fund?
See also: Measure design
Proposition 1 would issue $6.380 billion in bonds alongside the statutory changes to the Mental Health Services Act. The proceeds from the bond issue would be allocated as follows:[4]
- $1.05 billion for permanent supportive housing for homeless veterans who have mental health or substance abuse disorders,
- $922 million to fund permanent supportive housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness and have behavioral health needs; and
- $4.393 billion for grants for behavioral health treatment and housing eligible under the Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program.
Who supports and opposes Proposition 1?
See also: Support and Opposition
Yes on Prop 1 is leading the campaign in support of Proposition 1. Governor Gavin Newsom’s (D) Ballot Measure Committee is sponsoring the campaign.[5]Sen. Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-5), who co-authored the bills, said, “Together they will build out voluntary housing, reprioritize resources to those with the greatest needs, and provide a true safety net to prevent the many people falling through the cracks that we see today.”[6]
Californians Against Proposition 1 is leading the campaign in opposition of Proposition 1.[7] The campaign’s endorsements include Cal Voices, Disability Rights California, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, League of Women Voters of California, and Mental Health America of California. Carl DeMaio, chairman of Reform California and a leader of the NO on Prop 1 campaign: “At a time when we face a growing mental health crisis with homelessness, Prop 1 actually diverts existing funds from mental health treatment programs so the money can be diverted to government-financed housing projects. In doing so, Prop 1 raids and diverts funding from the very mental health treatment programs that currently serve homeless people! That’s why a bipartisan coalition of mental health treatment advocates oppose Prop 1 and warn of devastating cuts to mental health treatment programs if it passes.”[8]
Legislative Portal links – Express your support or opposition to a bill or directly to the Legislative committee currently reviewing it (as an individual, not as a member of RW or GSRW) – click here, or the bill’s author – click here, enter your bill # and look for tab at top of the bill page labeled “Comments to Author”.
