Both propositions on the primary elections ballot Tuesday
appeared to be heading for defeat at the hands of California
voters.
As of 10:52 p.m. Tuesday, with 21 percent of precincts
reporting, 54.3 percent voted “no” on Proposition 81,
and 59 percent voted “no” on Proposition 82.
Proposition 81 would have provided funds toward public library
facilities, which supporters said would expand access to literacy
programs in the state’s public education system and expand
access to public library services for all residents of California.
The funds would be allocated through a bond issue worth no more
than $600 million.
Proposition 82, funded by a 1.7 percent tax on individuals with
income over $400,000 and couples with income over $800,000, would
have established a free and voluntary public preschool program
available to all four-year olds.
Though both Democratic primary gubernatorial candidates ““
state Treasurer Phil Angelides and Controller Steve Westly ““
supported the measure, it still did not receive enough support from
California voters.
Proposition 81 would have helped combat illiteracy, provide safe
learning outlets for children, and give greater library access to
the community without increasing taxes, supporters said.
Second-year history student Bryan Mack voted against Proposition
81 because he believes people use libraries as resources less and
less with the rise of the Internet.
“It’s an outdated system. The money could be better
used for other things such as funding social welfare
programs,” Mack said.
Supporters said Proposition 82 would have helped encourage more
children to read and learn, which would eventually strengthen their
eduction from kindergarten to 12th grade.
But more California voters seemed to believe that before the
state should create a new education bureaucracy they should try to
fix the flaws of the established public K-12 system.
“Yes, it’s important to start education when
you’re young, but that’s not the right approach,”
said Nick Low, a first-year civil engineering student. “You
should be putting in money to improve the system, not adding to
it.”
Second-year political science student Matthew Barragan felt the
same and said the money should be used for correcting problems in
the K-12 system before investing in a brand new program.
Another aspect of the proposition Low did not support was the
use of a significant amount of funds toward such a selective group
of people. He said because the preschool program would be voluntary
it does not affect as many people as it would in the K-12
system.