2008 California Proposition 6

Proposition 6, on the November 2008 ballot in California was introduced by State Senate Republican Caucus Chairperson Senator George Runner and is funded primarily by Henry T. Nicholas III. Controversy has arisen over Nicholas' funding of the initiative as he was indicted on 25 crimes, including drug dealing, hiring prostitutes and stock fraud.

According to the California Legislative Analyst's Office the

"The proposal creates new state-funded criminal justice programs and requires that funding for certain existing programs be continued at current levels or increased in the future. In total, the measure requires the state to provide $965 million for specified criminal justice programs beginning in 2009-10. This amount reflects an increase in funding of $365 million compared to the amount provided in the 2007-08 Budget Act. In particular, the measure increases state funding for police, sheriffs, district attorneys, jails, and probation offices primarily for law enforcement activities. The measure prohibits the state or local governments from using the new funding provided to replace funds now used for the same purposes. In addition, the measure requires that future funding for some of these new and existing programs be adjusted annually for inflation. The measure would have the following fiscal effects: *Net state costs likely to exceed a half billion dollars annually primarily for increased funding of criminal justice programs, as well as for increased costs for prison and parole operations. *Unknown one-time state capital outlay costs potentially exceeding a half billion dollars for prison facilities. *Unknown net fiscal impact for state trial courts, county jails, and other local criminal justice agencies"

Opponents explain that increased prison spending will take money away from other programs funded by the General Fund, such as education and health care, during a time of budget crisis and is not effective in preventing criminal activity. Opponents refer to Proposition 6 as "The Runner Initiative" and include the California Democratic Party, the California Professional Firefighters}, former Los Angeles Police Chief Bernard Parks, the California Teachers Association, the Los Angeles City Council, California Children's Defense Fund, [http://www.calchurches.org California Church IMPACT, California NAACP and the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights.

Proponents claim that funding this "tough on crime" initiative is worthwhile. Proponents refer to Proposition 6 as "The Safe Neighborhoods Act" and include Corrections Corporation of America, Golden State Bail Bonds Association, [California Association of Healthcare Underwriters, California State Sheriffs’ Association, Mike Reynolds, the author of the Three Strikes Law, and the Chief Probation Officers’ of California.

The full Legislative Analyst's Office report on Proposition 6 can be viewed at http://www.lao.ca.gov/ballot/2007/070919.aspx The full text and summary of Proposition 6 can be viewed at: http://www.defeatrunner.org/downloads/runner_summary.pdf