Proposition 73 would require parental notification – or a court order - before any minor could receive an abortion.

In many cases, young women are scared and reluctant to tell their parents they are pregnant. The measure depends on a single assumption – that government can mandate family communication. It can’t, and it shouldn’t.

While proponents of the proposition claim that it is not an attack on the practice and legality of abortion, it is. Beyond its intended effect – making it harder for young women to get access to abortion services – the bill contains language redefining an abortion as causing “death to an unborn child” instead of the clinical term “fetus” or “embryo.” Vote NO on 73.

Proposition 74 would essentially make it easier to fire teachers, lengthening from two to five years their probationary period and removing some of the steps schools have to take now to dismiss a teacher deemed “unsatisfactory.”

This measure would punish the many for the sake of the few. It does nothing to raise standards, address the crippling funding shortages faced by schools statewide, or force accountability on parents, who are every bit as important to a child’s success as their teacher. Vote NO on 74.

Proposition 75, the so-called “Paycheck Protection” measure is an attempt to silence some of the governor’s loudest opponents.

It would restrict unions representing public employees from spending dues on political campaigns without explicit permission from members. But public employees already have the right to refuse to join unions, and the right to demand that their dues not be spent for politics.

If this proposition’s sponsors believe so strongly in fairness, as they claim, why not add a provision giving shareholders the right to veto political spending by corporations? Don’t let corporate interests silence unions. Vote NO on 75.

On the surface, Proposition 76 claims to be the solution to the state’s chronic budget problems, it isn’t.

Proposition 76 would amend the state constitution to limit state spending to the previous year’s spending and include a 3-year average of state income growth. More importantly, it would grant extraordinary powers to the governor to unilaterally slash spending if the budget process fails. The governor should never have more power than the 120 state legislators; this proposition undermines the democratic process.

Proposition 76 would also overturn key provisions of Proposition 98, which guarantees minimum levels of funding for K-12 education and community colleges, regardless of the economy. If passed, 76 would immediately divert $4 billion from California schools. Vote NO on 76.

Proposition 78 and Proposition 79 are competing measures to lower prescription drug prices. Both would create discount drug programs for poor families without medical coverage, with differences on who would qualify for coverage.

Proposition 78 allows drug manufacturers to voluntarily participate (or not) in the program; Proposition 79 specifies that companies who contract with the state’s Medi-Cal system must also offer discounted drugs to the new program. Proposition 79 would also make it a civil violation to profiteer from drug sales.

Don’t be fooled – 78 is a toothless decoy, put on the ballot by drug companies to steal votes from 79, which would force the industry to offer low-cost drugs to those who need it the most. Vote NO on 78, YES on 79.Prop. 73 would require parental notification – or a court order - before any minor could receive an abortion.