The most important vote you

can cast for the future of the UC

system is on a ballot initiative
you’ve never heard of.

The time has come to

RESTORE THE MAJORITY.
RESTORE THE UC.
WE CAN USE INITIATIVES TO ELIMINATE THE
2/3rds REQUIREMENT FOR PASSING A BUDGET

What is a Ballot Initiative?

 About 1/2 of states allow voters to put proposed laws or
amendments on the ballot in the form of an “initiative.”
 In California, initiatives become law with the support of
50% of voters.
 Supporters of an initiative must gather a certain
number of signatures in order to “qualify” for the ballot.
• In CA, supporters simply pay professional signature
gathering companies $1-2 million to gather the
required number of signatures. Grassroots signature
gathering is rarely successful.
 RESTORE THE MAJORITY. RESTORE THE UC.
HERE ARE YOUR OPTIONS.
Your Nov. 2010 vote can empower lawmakers who believe in higher
education and can restore a core democratic right to all Californians

Three different approaches to Restore the Majority in November 2010

California Forward: Hancock / Burton: Lakoff:

“Budget Accountability Act” “On-Time Budget Act” “California Democracy Act”

 Reduces current 2/3rds

requirement for passing budget
to 50%
 Does not address taxes
 Increases simple majority
requirement for raising fees to
2/3rds supermajority
 PayGo - Requires gov’t to
explain financing for any
spending increases or tax
reductions
 Reduces current 2/3rds
requirement for passing
budget to 50%
 Does not address taxes
 Takes away lawmakers’
salaries everyday budget is
overdue
 Reduces current 2/3rds
requirement for passing
budget to 50%
 Reduces current 2/3rds
requirement for raising
taxes to 50%

Source: Direct communication with campaigns

 SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES
AMONG RESTORE THE MAJORITY INITIATIVES..
Approaches Differ in Organization, Strategy, Fundraising, and
Preliminary Polling

CA Forward: Hancock / Burton: Lakoff:

“Budget Accountability Act”
Organization  Initiated:
Bipartisan think tank in
San Francisco called
“California Forward”
 Campaign:
CA Forward’s sister PAC
Strategy  Not known
“On Time Budget Act”
 Initiated:
State Sen. Loni Hancock &
Dem Party Chair John Burton
 Campaign :
Major unions: Teachers,
Firefighter, Nurses
 Professional: union
organizers, hired signature
gatherers, experienced
political strategists
“California Democracy Act”
 Initiated:
Berkeley Prof. George Lakoff
 Campaign:
Headed by CA Dem Party Co-
Chair Eric Bauman
 Volunteer: retirees,
students, and community
organizers

Funding  Not known  Shared between  Fundraising events and

participating unions individual contributions
 Relying on volunteerism

Support in  60-70%  70%  35-51%

Polls

Source: Direct communication with campaigns