Conservative California?

Sure we re-elected Feinstein again, but in the state elections California took a much more conservative attitude. Moderate Republican Schwarzenegger won re-election as Governnor, solid fiscal conservative Tom McClintock is winning for Lt. Governor, McPherson beat Brown for Secretary of State, and Poizner beat Cruz Bustamante for Insurance Commissioner. For those outside of Califnornia, driver's licenses for illegal immigration was Cruz's pet project (he tried to get it passed 8 times). We did lose Attorney General (ultra liberal Brown beat Poochigian), Controller where Chiang beat Strikcland, and Treasurer where Lockyer was re-elected. The 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, and 1E initiatives passed, sticking California with $40 billion in bond debt to pay over the next 30 years. I was for 1A because it restructured existing taxes, but not the other 4. Prop 83 passed in an effort to increase punishments for convicted sex offenders. This one was really a landslide. Not even close. Prop 84 passed. Another bond measure to get money to clean up water and improve our parks. I was against it simply because it was a bond, but at least it made Californians think. It's only winning 52 to 48. Prop 85 is unfortunately losing 53 to 47. This would have required that doctors notify the parents if a minor came in for an abortion. The No on 85 scare tactics worked, making it seem like every girl comes from an abusive house where she'll face physical harm if she tells her parents she wants an abortion. Prop 86 is losing. Tax increases are tough to pass, even if you're tripling cigarette taxes and saying it will all go to health services (even if that's a total lie). It's close though, going down 53 to 47. Al Gore got the no vote again as the Alternative Energy (Prop 87) bill that would increase taxes on oil companies appears to be losing. You've got to wonder if having Gore and Clinton in ads for this one helped or hurt... Prop 88 was a property tax increase to fund education, as if education really needs to suck up and waste more money. Fortunately Californians said borrowing billions more (Prop 1D) was more feasible than tax hikes and this won lost big 77 to 23. Californians sniffed out the bad side of campaign finance reform, Prop 89, and sent it to a resounding no. It lost 74 to 26. Prop 90 is really the only proposition that may still be in play. An eminent domain bill that seemed to favor construction monopolies is losing, but only barely, 51 to 49.