California Online Voter Guide

11th Edition, November 2004 General Election

Proposition 67: Emergency and Medical Services. Funding. Telephone Surcharge. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute. Failed

Official Summary

Provides funding for emergency personnel training and equipment, reimbursement for uncompensated emergency physician care, uncompensated community clinic care, emergency telephone system improvements, and to hospitals for emergency services. Commission to administer physician funding. Funded by: Addition of 3% to surcharge rate on telephone use within California; portions of tobacco taxes; criminal and traffic penalties. Monthly cap of 50 cents on surcharge collected by residential service providers, but not cell phone or business lines. Excludes funding from government appropriations limitations, and telephone surcharge from Proposition 98's school spending requirements.

Summary of estimate of Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Increased revenues of about $550 million annually from increased charges on telephone usage for emergency care services and other specified purposes. These revenues would probably grow in future years. Full Text of Proposition (PDF)

Campaign Web Sites and Contact Information

Yes on Proposition 67
Coalition to Preserve Emergency Care
191 Ridgeway Ave., Oakland, CA, 94611
(650) 306-0495 or info@saveemergencycare.org
No on Proposition 67
Californians to Stop the Phone Tax
1606 Stockton Street, #302, San Francisco, CA 94133
(916) 930-0688

Who Signed the Ballot Arguments

Yes on Proposition 67:

Darlene Bradley, RN, President, California Emergency Nurses Association
Michael J. Sexton, MD, President-elect, California Medical Association
Carmela Castellano, Chief Executive Officer, California Primary Care Association
Lou Stone, Vice President, California Professional Firefighters
Ramon Johnson, MD, Past Chair, California Emergency Medical Services Commission
Paul Kivela, MD, President, California Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians

No on Proposition 67:

Angela Mora, Founder, Office of the Patient Advocate
Robert T. Doyle, President, California State Sheriffs Association
Dr. Charles J. Supple, MD
L.W. “Chip” Yarborough, President, The California Chapter of the National Emergency Number Association (CALNENA)
H.L. “Hank” Lacayo, President, Congress of California Seniors
Larry, McCarthy, President, California Taxpayers’ Association

Follow the Money

Supporters of Proposition 67 have raised approximately $5 million as of October 16, 2004. The largest contributor as of October 31st is the California Healthcare Committee on Issues, sponsored by the California Healthcare Association (over $2 million). Other contributors include the California Medical Association Physician's Issues Committee, the California Emergency Physicians Medical Group, the California Primary Care Association, and the Emergency Physicians Medical Group.

Opponents of Proposition 67 have raised approximately $8 million as of October 16, 2004. The largest contributor as of October 31st is SBC Communications, accounting for over $5 million of the total raised against the measure. Other major contributors include Verizon and Verizon Wireless (nearly $2 million), Cingular Wireless ($1 million), T-Mobile, Sprint, AT&T and Surewest.

Detailed information about all contributors for and against Prop 67 is available through Cal-Access, the Secretary of State's campaign finance website.

For More Information, CVF Recommends...

The California Secretary of State publishes the Official Voter Information Guide with both a Quick Summary and Detailed Information about Proposition 67.

Other good nonpartisan resources include the League of Women Voters' Pro/Con Analysis and In-Depth Analysis of Proposition 67, the California Budget Project's Analysis, the California Journal, the McGeorge School of Law California Initiative Review and the Easy Voter Guide.

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