We continue our look into the propositions with Prop 3, discussed by lbpost.com columnists Dennis Smith and Daniel Brezenoff.
Dennis Smith
Prop 3: Children’s Hospital Bond Act. Great program. Initiative statute. This is a hard one for me. Being on the Board of Directors of Community Hospital of Long Beach I am aware of the massive amount of construction that will be occurring in the state by hospitals to become compliant with the state’s mandate that all hospitals are earthquake retrofitted. Locally Miller’s Childrens Hospital, perhaps the best children’s hospital in the state, is undergoing a massive construction project and could benefit from the funding. My question on this proposition is why limit the funding to just children’s hospitals? Why is there no provision to help all hospitals come into compliance with the state earthquake retrofit mandate. This proposition would add another $64 million per year to the budget. My vote is No on Prop 3.
*
Daniel Brezenoff
What it does: Floats a bond to raise about one billion dollars – paid back double over 30 years – for children’s hospitals.
Pros: Beyond the obvious (sick children need medical care) it will create a few jobs.
Cons: Every Californian will have to kick in about three bucks a year from now until 2038. Those who can’t pay will be subsidized by those who can. Some – the Governor, Linsday Lohan, other fabulously wealthy Californians – may pay up to 12 dollars and 86 cents per annum (I made that figure up, but I think it’s pretty close). That’ a lot of tipping money, but a clean conscience is priceless.
How I’m voting: On balance, this looks like a YES.
Will it pass? Of course it will. No one likes being guilt-tripped into a vote by the spectacle of sick children better than the American voter.
The lbpost.com does not make political endorsements. However, as elections for officials and measures draw nearer, our writers/posters are free to endorse or support political candidates if they wish. In the coming weeks, you will notice endorsements from our writers concerning all levels of government. These are their opinions and words. Individual endorsements do not express the opinion of the other writers and/or the founders and staff of the lbpost.com.