National Nurses United

10 O C T O B E R 2 0 0 5 C A L I F O R N I A N U R S E PROP 79: Would attempt to mandate drug companies to provide cheaper prescrip- tion drugs to low-income Californians. However, it does not go far enough; we need more comprehensive reform. PROP 80: Would reimpose some regulation on energy. This measure was a response to the deregulation that brought us the late 1990s energy crisis and we need good energy regulation. However, this measure does not go far enough. First, educate yourself about what exactly the initiatives in the special election would do by reading California Nurse, the official voter information guide, and consulting the recom- mendation of groups you respect. Then here are five relatively easy ideas to get out the vote Nov. 8. Do it alone or with a colleague: 1 Talk to your family, friends, coworkers, and social net- works about why it's important to vote this special elec- tion to protect everyday Californians' interests. 2 Type up a short (operative word is short) e-mail explain- ing how you are voting on the Nov. 8 ballot and why, then forward to family, friends, coworkers, and your other social or community networks—and ask them to do the same. 3 Photocopy or cut out the California Nurse slate card and post on your facility or unit bulletin board, or leave copies in the break room. 4 Ask your local community groups, such as your church, PTA, neighborhood or condo association, or your children's Boy or Girl Scouts troops, if you can come and give a brief talk from a CNA nurse's perspective on the measures. 5 Send an e-mail the day before the election to your con- tacts reminding them that a) tomorrow is election day, b) they should double check the location of their polling place, and c) if they need information, they can check CNA's website at www.calnurses.org and the Secretary of State's election website at www.ss.ca.gov/elections/elections.htm. Five Things RNs Can Do to Get Out the Vote CNA's Quickie PrimerON THE Special Election Join with nurses in voting no Nov. 8 PROP 73: Would require doctors to notify the parents of teens under 18 who seek abor- tion services, but in practice would threaten teen health and safety by preventing them from seeking professional medical care, and also shreds rights to patient confidentiali- ty and medical privacy. PROP 74: Would require teachers to wait five years in- stead of two before they move off probationary status and are eligible for tenure. Not only does this measure de- flect attention from the real problems facing our public school system, such as Schwarzenegger breaking his budget promises and under- funding our public schools this year by $2 billion, but makes it harder to recruit and retain teachers, especially in low-performing schools. PROP 75: Would require public employee unions to get written consent from members in order to spend dues money for political purposes. In actuality would sharply restrict the ability of RNs and other unions representing public workers from participating in the political process while placing no restraints on far greater political spending by wealthy corporate interests. PROP 76: Would give the governor new powers to sin- gle-handedly slash state fund- ing while gutting monies for schools guaranteed through the voter-approved education funding requirements of Proposition 98. Poorly writ- ten, it also will deprive cities and counties of hundreds of millions of dollars for fire- fighter, healthcare, and social service programs. PROP 77: Would remove the job of redistricting legislative and congressional districts from the state legis- lature and give it to a panel of three retired judges. Redis- tricting should be done in connection with the next census, and the public should have more of a say. This measure would take the job away from publicly elected of- ficials and give it to judges ap- pointed by the governor, a significant shift in the balance of power. The current system isn't perfect, but this is not the solution. PROP 78: Would create a "voluntary" drug rebate program, allowing drug com- panies to decide whether or not to offer seniors and the working poor cheaper pre- scription drugs. See "Off-label Use" article in this issue for more details. On many different levels, the Nov. 8 special election is an illegitimate one. CNA is protesting the forces behind it by urging a no vote to the entire ballot: Feature Story

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