National Nurses United

C A L I F O R N I A N U R S E S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 5 5 D espite most Californians' opposi- tion to holding a costly special election, Gov. Arnold Schwarze- negger has called one for Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2005. It is estimated to cost the state a total of $70 million dollars. This money will come from local coffers at the expense of other much-needed public services such as healthcare, and police and fire protection. Because of the peculiarities of campaign finance law and the timing of this election in what would normally be a non-election year, Schwarzenegger can appear in ads for propositions sponsored by his big corporate donors. Next year, when he is running for reelection, he would be prohibited by law from appearing in their ads. CNA's Legislative and Regulatory Committee and its Board of Directors recommend a NO vote on the entire election. Here's a rundown on the propositions you'll see on the ballot: = P RO P 7 3 = Threatening teen safety. Requires doc- tors to notify the parents of any teenager under the age of 18 who seeks abortion services, but provides no real solutions for parents while also risking the privacy of medical records because of reporting requirements. Parental notification laws like this threaten teen health and safety be- cause they prevent teens from seek- ing safe, professional medical and nursing care. = P RO P 7 4 = Attacking school teachers. Requires teachers to wait five years instead of two before they move off probationary status and are eligible for tenure. This measure tries to deflect attention from the real problems facing our public school system, such as Schwarzeneg- ger breaking his budget promises and underfunding our public schools this year by $2 billion. Threatening a teacher's job security is a cynical act and will only make it more difficult to recruit and retain teachers, especially in low-performing schools. = P RO P 7 5 = Paycheck deception. This is an at- tempt to silence the voice of working Californians who have questioned Schwarzenegger's policies. It makes it unreasonably difficult for union dues to be used for any political purpose by requiring public employee unions to first get written permission from their members. The voters have rejected this measure in the past and should do so again. = P RO P 7 6 = Gutting school funding. This proposi- tion would give the governor new pow- ers to single-handedly slash state funding while gutting the voter-ap- proved education funding require- ments of Proposition 98. Poorly written, it also will deprive cities and counties of hundreds of millions of dol- lars for firefighter, healthcare, and so- cial service programs. = P RO P 7 7 = A judge had removed this measure from the ballot, but a higher court re- stored it. Would remove the job of re- districting legislative and congressional districts from the state legislature and give it to a panel of three retired judges. Redistricting should be done in con- nection with the next census, and the public should have more of a say. This measure would take the job away from publicly elected officials and give it to judges appointed by the governor, a sig- nificant shift in the balance of power. The current system isn't perfect, but this is not the solution. = P RO P 7 8 = "Voluntary" drug discounts. Would cre- ate a "voluntary" drug rebate program, allowing drug companies to decide whether or not to offer seniors and the working poor cheaper prescription drugs. Given the voluntary nature of the measure, it is completely unneces- sary to legislate. It also shuts down any ability of the Legislature to pass a bet- ter law for consumers in the future. = P RO P 7 9 = Cheaper prescription drugs. This ini- tiative attempts to mandate drug com- panies to provide cheaper prescription drugs to low-income Californians. How- ever, it does not go far enough; we need more comprehensive reform. = P RO P 8 0 = A judge had removed this measure from the ballot, but the decision was appealed and is back on the ballot. Energy rereg- ulation. This measure was a response to the deregulation that brought us the en- ergy crisis in the late 1990s and we need good energy regulation. However, this measure does not go far enough. Let's send a message to Schwarze- negger. Work with the legislators we al- ready voted for to solve the state's problems. Go to the polls and vote NO in November. Look for a more in-depth analysis of these initiatives in the upcoming issue. For up-to-date information on CNA-sponsored leg- islation, please visit our website at www.calnurses.org. —Staff report Just Say No in November Arrowhead RNs Settle Contract S ome 1,100 registered nurses with San Bernardino County's Arrow- head Regional Medical Center and public health clinics settled their first- ever CNA contract in late July. The pact, which was to be approved by RNs and county supervisors in August, should improve patient care by stopping unsafe floating of RNs, creating an all-RN Pro- fessional Practice Committee, and secur- ing the right to dispute staffing issues to a neutral arbitrator. The contact should also help retain experienced RNs by cor- recting significant wage disparities. "This is the best contract I have seen in the last 29 years as a county RN," said Linda Pester, a public health RN. —Staff report

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