Commentary: Ballot measures provide voters with unique opportunity

The March 2 primary election is right around the corner. Some voters might dismiss the election as unimportant, but it is crucial that farmers, ranchers and rural citizens voice their concerns at the ballot box.

The California Farm Bureau Federation's board of directors recommends votes on the four ballot propositions. While the number of measures is relatively small, your vote on them is important. The CFBF board of directors recommends two "no" votes and two "yes" votes.

The directors oppose Prop. 55, the $13 billion school bond for construction and renovation of school facilities. There is a need to upgrade school facilities, but the board voted to oppose the measure. Why? Allocating billions for school facilities while adding to the state's bond indebtedness is not wise given the serious budget mess in Sacramento. State revenues should be annually allocated to fund school improvements without creating additional bond debt.

Proposition 56, the "Blank Check Initiative," is misleading and deceptive. Touted as government reform, this proposition would be a big blow to California's economy, inflicting more pain on an already struggling state.

Prop. 56 would allow the Legislature to enact budget and budget-related tax and appropriation bills with a 55 percent vote rather than the two-thirds vote currently required. This measure, despite what its television ads say, will tilt the existing balance of power in the state Legislature to approve spending bills on a party-line vote.

In the state Assembly, 55 percent means 44 votes and two-thirds means 54 votes. The current Assembly makeup is 48 Democrats and 32 Republicans. In the Senate, the power will shift under Prop. 56. Fifty-five percent means 22 votes and two-thirds means 27 votes. The current Senate makeup is 25 Democrats and 15 Republicans.

California's tax burden is already higher than many other states. According to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Commerce, California is the eighth highest among states nationwide when tax burden is compared on the basis of personal income and is higher than all other competing Western states.

Raising taxes at a time when California is trying to pull itself out of a deep financial mess is foolish. Giving lawmakers the power to impose new taxes will hurt Californians' competitiveness and make it harder for employers to create jobs that are needed to put our economy back on track. Join me in opposing Prop. 56 on March 2.

While is it crucial to defeat Prop. 56, it is imperative that voters pass Propositions 57 and 58, the pillars of Gov. Schwarzenegger's economic recovery plan. Given the huge state budget deficit, these measures are important to start cleaning up the budget mess left from the previous administration. Clearly, it would be better to cut government without resorting to bond financing, but the state is in a deep hole.

Last week, I joined Gov. Schwarzenegger and other agricultural leaders at World Ag Expo to urge support for these measures. With the world's largest farm show as the backdrop, the governor appealed for help to pass the propositions. The measures have generated bipartisan support and are viewed as the way to start resolving the budget crisis. They are not the sole answer, but they are important steps to put California back on the right track.

California must put its fiscal house back in order after years of mismanagement in Sacramento. We pledged our support to help elect the governor and we are again working to pass these measures, because a healthy state economy is vital to the success of our agricultural sector.

Don't take lightly the March 2 election. Your vote is more important than you think. California voters showed the nation last October their will to help build a better California. This March 2, we have another opportunity to play an important role in th. state's economic future.