California Proposition 32: Minimum wage hike, mixed support

Proposition 32 seeks to raise California’s minimum wage to $18 per hour, with small employers gradually increasing to that rate by 2026. Early results show a divided electorate, with business groups opposing the measure, citing inflation concerns. If passed, California would have the highest minimum wage in the U.S., benefiting around 2 million workers.

CONTENTS:

• California ballot measures: bonds, rights, penalties.
• California voters decide on propositions: bonds, rights, minimum wage, penalties.
• Proposition 32: Minimum wage hike, mixed support.

California Proposition 32: Minimum wage hike, mixed support

California ballot measures: bonds, rights, penalties

California Proposition 32: Minimum wage hike California voters were presented with ten statewide ballot propositions in the November election, covering a broad range of issues, including bonds, same-sex marriage, involuntary servitude in prisons, rent control, healthcare spending, criminal penalties, and minimum wage.

Here are the latest results with 45% reporting:

– Proposition 2 (Public School Bonds): Yes – 57%, No – 43%. This measure would authorize $10 billion in bonds for public school and community college facilities, increasing state costs by about $500 million annually for 35 years to repay the debt.

– Proposition 3 (Right to Marriage): Yes – 62%, No – 38%. This proposition would secure the right to marry for all individuals, regardless of gender.

– Proposition 4 (Environmental Bonds): Yes – 58%, No – 42%. This measure would allow $10 billion in bonds for safe drinking water, wildfire prevention, and protecting communities and natural lands from climate risks, with repayment costs of about $400 million annually for 40 years.

– Proposition 5 (Affordable Housing): No – 57%, Yes – 43%. This would permit local bonds for affordable housing and public infrastructure, requiring 55% voter approval and potentially higher property taxes to repay the debt.

– Proposition 6 (Involuntary Servitude for Incarcerated Persons Amendment): No – 55%, Yes – 45%. This would amend the California Constitution to eliminate involuntary servitude for incarcerated individuals, effectively ending forced labor in prisons.

– Proposition 32 (Minimum Wage): No – 51%, Yes – 49%. This measure would raise the state minimum wage to $18 per hour by 2026, though a “no” vote would leave it at about $17 per hour.

– Proposition 33 (Rent Control): No – 60%, Yes – 40%. This would repeal the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act of 1995 and grant local governments the authority to impose rent control on residential properties.

– Proposition 34 (Prescription Drug Revenue Spending): Yes – 51%, No – 49%. This proposition would impose new spending rules for health care entities regarding revenue earned from a federal drug discount program.

– Proposition 35 (Medi-Cal Permanent Funding): Yes – 67%, No – 33%. This measure would provide permanent funding for Medi-Cal, California’s health care program for low-income individuals.

– Proposition 36 (Increased Sentences for Drug and Theft Crimes): Yes – 71%, No – 29%. This proposition would allow felony charges and increased sentences for drug and theft crimes, particularly for those with prior convictions.

Propositions can be added to the California ballot in two ways:

1. Through the California State Legislature.

2. Via a petition process, where anyone can collect enough signatures to place a measure on the ballot.

California voters decide on propositions: bonds, rights, minimum wage, penalties

California Proposition 32: Minimum wage hike  On November 5, California voters decided on ten statewide ballot propositions, addressing a range of issues including minimum wage, harsher criminal penalties, forced prison labor, rent control, and more. These measures were proposed by both citizens and the legislature as part of California’s direct democracy process. The results are being tracked.

Some of the measures involve amendments to the California Constitution. A “yes” on Proposition 3 would protect same-sex marriage rights, while a “yes” on Proposition 6 would end involuntary servitude in state prisons. Other measures seek to authorize billions in state borrowing, such as Proposition 2, which would fund public school and college upgrades, and Proposition 4, which would address wildfire and climate disaster responses.

Proposition 33 seeks to grant cities and counties greater authority to enact rent control, with opponents raising significant funds to defeat the initiative. Proposition 5 would lower the vote threshold for local housing-related bond measures, making them easier to pass.

California Proposition 32: Minimum wage hike 

Current results with around 45% of the expected vote in:

– Proposition 2 (Public Education Bonds): Yes – 56.8%, No – 43.2%. This proposition would allow the state to borrow $10 billion to upgrade public schools and community colleges.

– Proposition 3 (Enshrine Marriage Rights): Yes – 62.3%, No – 37.7%. This measure would amend the state constitution to recognize marriage as a fundamental right, protecting same-sex marriage.

– Proposition 4 (Natural Resources Bonds): Yes – 57.9%, No – 42.1%. This proposition would authorize borrowing $10 billion to fund climate-related disaster responses and ensure clean drinking water.

– Proposition 5 (Lower Vote Threshold for Housing Bonds): Yes – 43.5%, No – 56.5%. This would lower the threshold for passing local affordable housing and transportation bond measures from two-thirds to 55%.

– Proposition 6 (Remove Slavery Exception): Yes – 45.5%, No – 54.5%. This would amend the state constitution to ban all forms of involuntary servitude in state prisons.

– Proposition 32 (Raise Minimum Wage): Yes – 49.2%, No – 50.8%. This would increase California’s minimum wage from $16 to $18 per hour, with annual inflation adjustments.

– Proposition 33 (Expand Local Rent Control): Yes – 40.3%, No – 59.7%. This would repeal the prohibition against local governments enacting rent control.

– Proposition 34 (Restrict Healthcare Spending): Yes – 51.1%, No – 48.9%. This proposition would require healthcare providers to spend most of their federal prescription discount revenue on direct patient care.

– Proposition 35 (Permanently Fund Medi-Cal): Yes – 67.3%, No – 32.7%. This measure would extend a tax on managed health insurance plans to fund Medi-Cal services for low-income residents.

– Proposition 36 (Felonies for Theft and Drug Crimes): Yes – 70.6%, No – 29.4%. This proposition would increase prison sentences for certain crimes, including fentanyl possession and shoplifting, by classifying them as felonies.

Local measures, such as those regarding school bonds, sales taxes, and city charter amendments, are also on the ballot but are voted on at the county, city, or school district level.

Proposition 32: Minimum wage hike, mixed support

California Proposition 32: Minimum wage hike  California’s Proposition 32, which seeks to raise the state’s minimum wage to $18 per hour, is too close to call in early election returns as the state grapples with its high cost of living. If passed, Proposition 32 would raise the minimum wage to $17 for the remainder of the year, then to $18 in January for large employers. Smaller employers with 25 or fewer workers would be required to pay at least $17 in January and $18 by 2026.

Currently, the state’s minimum wage is tied to inflation. If Proposition 32 does not pass, the minimum wage will still increase by 50 cents to $16.50 in January, which translates to just over $34,000 annually for full-time workers. If passed, the measure would make California the state with the highest minimum wage in the nation. Proponents estimate it would raise wages for about two million workers, including those in industries like warehousing, restaurants, agriculture, and child care.

California Proposition 32: Minimum wage hike  While public polling last year indicated support for an $18 minimum wage, recent surveys show a divided electorate. A UC Berkeley poll in October found 47% of likely voters in favor of the measure, 39% against, and 14% undecided. Opposition to the measure comes from business groups, including the state Chamber of Commerce and organizations representing grocery, agricultural, and restaurant industries. These groups argue that the wage increase would drive up food prices and worsen inflation.

Proposition 32 was sponsored by investor and anti-poverty advocate Joe Sanberg, who personally invested $10 million to qualify the measure for the ballot. The campaign differs from typical union-backed efforts, as unions were not the primary drivers. Although California unions and lawmakers had already enacted higher wage mandates, including a $20 minimum wage for fast food workers, proponents argue that $18 still falls short of a living wage, especially in a state where research shows a single person needs at least $27 an hour to be self-sufficient.

Despite less public attention and fewer resources dedicated to the campaign, Sanberg and supporters are focusing efforts in the final weeks of the election to rally voters, particularly in big cities, to support the measure.