Early voting has begun. The polls are tightening. So are these rankings…
| RANK | BEST KNOWN AS | BACKERS | WHAT IT DOES | FISCAL IMPACT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RANK 1 (Previous Week: Rank 1) |
PROP 35 Human Trafficking |
Law enforcement, human rights groups, rich Facebook guy, virtually everyone except traffickers. | Tougher penalties for human trafficking. Provides something all Californians can be for. | Minor increases for prosecution, incarceration and law enforcement training, with some small new revenues from fines. |
| NOTE: A sure thing. | ||||
| RANK 2 (Previous Week: Rank 2) |
PROP 36 Three Strikes |
Stanford Law professor David Mills, big city prosecutors and police chiefs, George Soros, NAACP. | Put limits on three-strike policy, limiting third strike to serious or violent crimes. Would allow some previous three strikers to apply for re sentencing. | May save state small amount – in tens of millions. |
| NOTE: Slipping but should survive. | ||||
| RANK 3 (Previous Week: Rank 5) |
PROP 39 Single Sales Factor |
Hedge fund manager Tom Steyer and environmental, clean energy advocates. | Requiring businesses to pay taxes based on their sales in California (single sales factor) | $1.1 billion, with half dedicated to energy programs. |
| NOTE: Its sponsor, Tom Steyer, quit his hedge fund. What’s he running for? | ||||
| RANK 4 (Previous Week: Rank 4) |
PROP 30 Brown Tax Increase |
Gov. Brown, unions, Democratic establishment. | Four-year temporary sales tax increase of 0.25, seven-year temporary income tax increase starting at $250K. | Between $5.4 and $7.6 billion annually beginning in 2013-2014. |
| NOTE: The good news: despite sinking polls, this still has a chance. The bad news: Sutter’s image sure to take a hit for endorsing this dog. | ||||
| RANK 5 (Previous Week: Rank -) |
PROP 34 Death Penalty Repeal |
Coalition that includes criminal justice critics, law enforcement, Briggs family. | Replaces death penalty with life imprisonment with no possibility of parole. Puts some savings into fund controlled by attorney general. | Would save $100 million but money funneled into new program for solving rape, murder cases. |
| NOTE: Biggest potential change in California could be comeback victory by this death penalty repeal. | ||||
6. Prop 33 (Auto Insurance Discount)
7. Prop 37 (GMO Labeling)
8. Prop 32 (paycheck protection and corporate limits)
9. Prop 38 (Molly Munger – Education Tax Increase)
10. Prop 31 (Cal Forward)