CALIFORNIA VOTES: A 2022 Election Preview, May 26, 2022
Capitol Weekly presented CALIFORNIA VOTES, A 2022 Election Preview, on Thursday May 26, 2022.
Legalized sports betting. Reduction of plastic waste. New regulations regarding Kidney Dialysis. A referendum of the flavored tobacco products ban.
Complex subjects, each is the focus of a Proposition slated for California’s November 2022 ballot. As always, voters are tasked with making important choices on a wide variety of proposals that will impact Californians for decades to come. Facing a deluge of advertising on some measures and a dearth of information on others, how can voters prepare themselves to make informed choices?
A Program for the event with a bio for each of the speakers may be found here.
Through spirited discussion and reasoned debate, each panel discussion explored the strengths and weaknesses of the proposition.
This event was held on ZOOM from 9:00AM to 2:00PM, Thursday, May 26, 2022.
9:00AM – 9:50AM, Panel 1: PROP 31, FLAVORED TOBACCO BAN
On August 28, 2020, California passed SB 793, the Stop Tobacco Access to Kids Enforcement (STAKE) Act, prohibiting the sale of most flavored tobacco products. Opponents qualified a referendum challenging this law. The referendum, Proposition 31, will appear on the November 2022 ballot, and requires a majority of voter approval of SB-793 before it can take effect.
Panelists: Lindsey Freitas, Yes to Protect Kids Campaign; Steven Greenhut, R Street Institute
Moderated by Elizabeth Aguilera of Calmatters.
10:10AM – 10:55AM, Panel 2: PROPS 26 and 27, SPORTS BETTING
Rival proponents have introduced duelling Ballot Propositions that would allow legal sports wagering in California. Propostion 26, proposed by a coalition of California Tribes would allow federally recognized Native American tribes to operate roulette, dice games, and sports wagering on tribal lands, subject to compacts negotiated by the Governor and ratified by the Legislature. The competing measure, Prop 27, backed by international gaming entities FanDuel and DraftKings, would allow commercial sports betting for entities who meet requirements, including a $100 million license fee.
Panelists: Brandon Castillo, Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gaming; Chris Grove, Gambling industry entrepreneur, Partner Emeritus at Eilers & Krejcik.
Moderated by Lara Korte of Politico.
11:15AM – Noon, Panel 3: PLASTIC WASTE REDUCTION
Proponents have submitted a Ballot Initiative that would require CalRecycle to adopt regulations reducing plastic waste, including to: (1) require that single-use plastic packaging, containers, and utensils be reusable, recyclable, or compostable, and to reduce such waste by 25%, by 2030; (2) prohibit polystyrene container use by food vendors; and (3) tax producers of single-use plastic packaging, containers, or utensils by January 1, 2022, and allocate revenues for recycling and environmental programs, including local water supply protection. Prohibits Legislature from reducing funding to specified state environmental agencies below 2019 levels.
Panelists: Rob Lapsley, California Business Roundtable; Jay Ziegler, The Nature Conservancy
Moderated by Randol White of Capital Public Radio.
KEYNOTE, 12:20PM – 1:00PM, A Look at the June 7 Primary
Our Keynote for the event features two of the state’s most respected political data experts, Paul Mitchell of Political Data Inc., and Matt Rexroad of Redistricting Insights discussing the most closely-watched races in the June 7, 2022 Primary Election. Capitol Weekly’s John Howard introduces.
1:15PM – 2:00PM, Panel 4: PROP 29, DIALYSIS CLINIC REQUIREMENTS
Proponents have introduced a Ballot Measure, Proposition 29, which would require a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant, with six months’ relevant experience, on site during treatment at outpatient kidney dialysis clinics; authorizes exemption for staffing shortage if qualified medical professional is available through telehealth. Requires clinics to disclose to patients all physicians with clinic ownership interests of five percent or more. Requires clinics to report dialysis-related infection data to state. Prohibits clinics from closing or substantially reducing services without state approval. Prohibits clinics from refusing to treat patients based on source of payment.
Panelists: Kathy Fairbanks, spokeswoman, Stop Yet Another Dangerous Dialysis Proposition; David Miller, Research Director, SEIU-UHW
Moderated by Sigrid Bathen of Capitol Weekly.
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: The Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gaming, The Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations, Western States Petroleum Association, KP Public Affairs, Perry Communications, Capitol Advocacy and California Professional Firefighters
