[GPCA Updates] GPCA Release -- Positions on Ballot Propositions Nov. 2

[Green Party of California Updates]

News Advisory
THE GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA
   http://www.cagreens.org


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, Sept. 16, 2010
Contact: Derek Iversen 323.481.8984 diversen at cagreens.org
           Cres Vellucci 916.996.9170 cvellucci at cagreens.org


State Green Party releases positions on state ballot
propositions; GPCA supports Prop. 19/marijuana
legalization, opposes suspension of clean air laws

FULLERTON – The Green Party of California (GPCA) this week disclosed its
positions on the state propositions on the ballot Nov. 2, revealing it
has endorsed less than half of the measures, according to Ricardo Gomez,
who released the poll results of Green Party County Councils (central
committees)  at the party's state convention here.

Greens reserved their biggest support for Prop. 19, the marijuana
legalization measure, and also endorsed Prop. 21 (vehicle fee of $18 for
helps parks/wildlife), Prop. 24 (cut corporate tax breaks) and Prop. 25
(lowering requirement to pass state budget to majority, from the present
two-thirds in the Legislature).

The GPCA overwhelmingly opposed Prop. 23 (suspension of air pollution
laws) and Prop. 26 (increases to two-thirds from majority to adopt new
state taxes).

The Greens took no position on Prop. 20 (moves redistricting to a
citizen commission from the Legislature), largely because the party
believes proportional representation, practiced by virtually all of the
world's democracies, should be instituted not an incremental system that
new redistricting would provide.

And,  the Greens remained neutral as well on Prop. 22 (prohibits the
state from raiding local government coffers) and Prop. 27 (repeal of the
citizen redistricting commission).

The Green Party said approving Prop. 19 is a social justice issue,
noting that three times as many Blacks are arrested on marijuana charges
than Whites, who use marijuana much more frequently.

"This is a long overdue correction of years of unjust prohibition of a
drug far less harmful than alcohol or nicotine," said Joan Strasser, in
her analysis for the GPCA.

Complete results are at www.cagreens.org.

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