Welcome to the Virtual UU Meeting House
Proposition 61
Children's Hospital Projects
Shall $750 million general obligation bonds be authorized for grants to eligible children's hospitals for construction, expansion, remodeling, renovation, furnishing and equipping children's hospitals?
- Official Summary, Pros & Cons
- Other Resources : Organizations , Articles, Reports, Links
- UU Commentaries
- Other California Ballot Propositions
Virtual UU Meeting House discussion: come on in, and read what people had to say.
Official Summary and Arguments
Proposition 61 authorizes $750 million general obligation bonds for grants to eligible children's hospitals for construction, expansion, remodeling, renovation, furnishing and equipping children's hospitals. Fiscal Impact: State cost of about $1.5 billion over 30 years to pay off both the principal ($750 million) and interest ($756 million) costs of the bonds. Payments of about $50 million per year.
Official Voter Information Guide (pdf)
Source: California Secretary of State / Elections and Voter Information
Campaign Finance Information
Source: California Secretary of State / Cal-Access
A YES vote on this measure means:
The state could sell $750 million in general obligation bonds for the construction, expansion, remodeling, renovation, furnishing, equipping, financing, or refinancing of children's hospitals.
A NO vote on this measure means:
The state would not sell the $750 million in general obligation bonds proposed for these purposes.
Arguments FOR Proposition 61
Every day, California's Children's Hospitals save lives: children with leukemia, cancer, cystic fibrosis, and heart disease. 80% of children with leukemia are making it. 90% are coming through delicate heart surgery. Proposition 61 doesn't raise taxes. It does give the sickest kids in California the best care on earth.
Arguments AGAINST Proposition 61
Rebuilding a few children's hospitals will make some building contractors richer; however, it will not, by itself, provide health care for anyone. What we need - in California and across America - is some sort of "single-payer" health care system which cuts out the middlemen and profiteers.
For Proposition 61
Yes On 61 - California Children's Hospital Association
Against Proposition 61
California Republican Assembly
Orange County Taxpayers Association (pdf)
Nonpartisan Background and Analysis
Institute of Governmental Studies, UC Berkeley
Selected Articles, Editorials, Opinions, Reports
Proposition 61 would give $750 million to children's hospitals
The Ventura County Star, September 19, 2004
Hospital gives funds to Prop. 61...
San Bernardino County Sun, Sept. 5, 2004, as posted by NewsBank
More voters are disposed to support (47%) than oppose (31%) Proposition 61...
The Field Poll, August 15, 2004 (pdf)
Last updated on September 30, 2004
UU Commentaries
No commentary was received prior to our deadline. Please add your opinion and voice to the discussion below.
"Children are one third of our population and
all of our future."
—Select Panel for the Promotion of Child Health, 1981
"The care of human life and happiness, and not
their destruction,
is the first and only object of good government."
—Thomas Jefferson
SUPPORTERS SAY Proposition 61 will allow children's hospitals to increase needed bed capacity, and to purchase the latest medical technologies and special equipment. It will not raise taxes.
OPPONENTS SAY this proposition does not guarantee health care for any child and does not address the fact that many children have no, or inadequate, health insurance. They say that California voters have already approved billions of dollars in bond debt this year; additional borrowing now is not responsible.
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