California Online Voter Guide

June 2008 Statewide Primary Election

16th edition

Proposition 99 – Eminent Domain. Limits on Government Acquisition of Owner-Occupied Residence. Passed

Initiative Constitutional Amendment.

Summary

Bars state and local governments from using eminent domain to acquire an owner-occupied residence, as defined, for conveyance to a private person or business entity.

Creates exceptions for public work or improvement, public health and safety protection, and crime prevention.

Fiscal Impact: No significant fiscal impact on state or local governments.

What a Yes or No Vote Means

A “YES” vote on this measure means: In a limited number of cases, government would no longer have the authority to take a single-family home.

A “NO” vote on this measure means: There would be no change to government’s authority to take single-family homes. That is, government could take a home for a public purpose if government paid the owner for its value.

Full Text of Proposition 99/Proposed Law - (PDF)

Official Campaign Web Sites and Contact Information

Yes on Proposition 99

Yes on 99, Protect Homeowners from Eminent Domain
1121 L Street #803
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (888) 362-2337
Email: info@no98yes99.com
Web site: www.YesProp99.org

No on Proposition 99

Yes on Prop. 98 – Californians for Property Rights Protection
921 11th Street, Suite 1201
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 556-1110
Email: info@YesProp98.com
Web site: www.YesProp98.com

Who Signed the Ballot Arguments

Yes on Proposition 99

Ken Willis, President, League of California Homeowners
Nan Brasmer, President, California Alliance for Retired Americans
Janis R. Hirohama, President, League of Women Voters of California
No on Proposition 99

Jon Coupal, President, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, Protect Prop. 13 Committee
Doug Mosebar, President, California Farm Bureau
Steve L. Caughran, 2007 California Small Business Owner of the Year, National Federation of Independent Business

News Articles

California voters face dueling measures on home seizure by eminent domain, by Patrick McGreevy, Los Angeles Times, April 20, 2008.
Rent control targeted in June election, by Mary Ann Milbourn, Orange County Register, April 2, 2008.

Follow the Money

Proposition 99 Campaign Finances through May 17, 2008
Position	Support *		Oppose
Total Raised	$7,892,741		$
Top Donors	Name	Amount	Name	Amount
	League of California Cities (non-public funds & CITIPAC) [Sacramento, CA]	$3,795,263	-	-
	California State Association of Counties (non-public funds) [Sacramento, CA]	$796,935	-	-
	California Redevelopment Association (non-public funds) [Sacramento, CA]	$450,149	-	-
	California State Council of SEIU (Ballot Issues Committee) [Sacramento, CA]	$300,000	-	-
	California Alliance For Jobs (Rebuild California Committee) [Sacramento, CA], California Construction Industry LMCT [Sacramento, CA], California Teachers Assn. (Issues PAC) [Burlington, CA], Peninsula Open Space Trust [Palo Alto, CA], The Nature Conservancy [San Francisco, CA] [tied]	$250,000	-	-

* The top financial donors supporting Prop. 99 are also the top donors opposing Prop. 98 and are donating through a combined fundraising effort.

Detailed information about all contributors for and against Proposition 99 is available from campaign finance reports at Cal-Access, the Secretary of State's campaign disclosure web site. To view the most recent contributions, select a committee and click "Late and $5000+ Contributions Received".