California Online Voter Guide

June 2010 Statewide Primary Election

19th edition

Proposition 16 - New Two-Thirds Vote Requirement for Local Public Electricity Providers. Failed

Initiative Constitutional Amendment

• Official Summary
• What a Yes or No Vote Means
• Official Voter Guide page
• Campaign Web Sites and Contact Information
• Who Signed the Ballot Arguments
• News Stories
• Top 5 Donors

Official Summary:

• Requires local governments to obtain the approval of two-thirds of the voters before providing electricity service to new customers or expanding such service to new territories using public funds or bonds.

• Requires same two-thirds vote to provide electricity service through a community choice program using public funds or bonds.

• Requires the vote to be in the jurisdiction of the local government and any new territory to be served.

• Provides exceptions to the voting requirements for a limited number of identified projects.

What a Yes or No Vote Means

A YES vote on this measure means: Local governments would generally be required to receive two-thirds voter approval before they could start up electricity services or expand electricity service into a new territory.

A NO vote on this measure means: Local governments generally could continue to implement proposals involving the start-up or expansion of electricity service either through approval by a majority of voters or actions by governing boards.

Official Voter Guide page

This page features the Legislative Analyst's analysis, pro-con arguments, legislative votes and the full proposition text.

Campaign Web Sites and Contact Information

• Yes on Proposition 16

  YES On 16/Californians to Protect Our Right to Vote
  2350 Kerner Blvd., Suite 250, San Rafael, CA 94901
  Email: info@taxpayersrighttovote.com
  Web site: www.taxpayersrighttovote.com

• No on Proposition 16

  Taxpayers Against the PG&E Powergrab,
  Sponsored by Local Power, Inc. and The Utility Reform Network
  Mindy Spatt
  5429 Madison Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95841
  (415) 929-8876 x306
  Web site: www.powergrab.info

Who Signed the Ballot Arguments

• Yes on Proposition 16

  Teresa Casazza, President, California Taxpayers’ Association
  Allan Zaremberg, President, California Chamber of Commerce

• No on Proposition 16

  Jeannine English, California State President, AARP
  Andy Katz, Chair, Sierra Club California
  Richard Holober, Executive Director, Consumer Federation of California

News Stories

This page provides excerpts from and links to news coverage of the propositions on the ballot.

Follow the Money

Proposition 16 - Top Five Donors (as of 6/2/10)
Position	S U P P O R T			O P P O S E
Total Raised * (as of 6/2)	$46,206,258			$97,937
Top Donors (as of 6/2)	Donor information	Amount		Donor Information	Amount
	Pacific Gas and Electric Company San Francisco, CA	$46,115,000		The Utility Reform Network, San Francisco, CA	$33,022
	California Business PAC, sponsored by the California Chamber of Commerce (AKA CALBUSPAC), Sacramento, CA	$141,258		California Association of Realtors Issues Mobilization PAC, Los Angeles, CA	$25,000
				Sierra Club Marin Regional Group, San Francisco, CA	$5,500
				Alliance for Retail Energy Markets, Grover Beach, CA	$5,000
				Rubio for Senate 2010, Bakersfield, CA	$3,900

 

* Total amount raised includes all contributions received in 2009 and through May 22, 2010, plus contributions of $5,000 or more received between May 23 - June 2, 2010.

Detailed information about all contributors for and against Proposition 16 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".

 

 

 

Proposition 13 Proposition 14 Proposition 15 Proposition 16 Proposition 17

This page was first published on April 25, 2010 | Last updated on July 31, 2010
Copyright California Voter Foundation, All Rights Reserved.