Californians voted in ways that would be expected for such a strongly Democratic-leaning electorate, except on the issue of the death penalty. That isn’t too surprising, either, given that Californians — despite their left-of-center tilt — have long been supportive of tough-on-crime measures and have consistently supported the death penalty.

Voters rejected, by 54 percent to 46 percent, Proposition 62, which would have repealed the death penalty and replaced it with life in prison without parole for murderers. They approved, with nearly 51 percent of the vote, the alternative Proposition 66. That measure streamlines the appeals process so the state can more quickly execute death row inmates.

Despite such “toughness,” voters overwhelmingly approved Gov. Jerry Brown’s sentencing-reform measure (Proposition 57) that would allow early release for some felons. There have been some increases in crime rates following the passage in 2014 of Proposition 47 (reducing some drug felonies to misdemeanors), but California voters remain committed to reducing some types of prison sentences.

On Election Day, voters also were strongly supportive of tax and spending measures. They approved, 54 percent to 46 percent, Proposition 51, which authorizes $9 billion in general-obligation bonds to modernize K-12 public schools. State bond measures are not direct tax increases, but they do increase the debt secured by the state’s general fund. That means legislators will have to allocate money to pay the service on the debt. They create pressure for tax hikes, or for spending cuts in other areas.

Voters also approved Proposition 55 by a hefty margin (62 percent to 38 percent), which will extend by 12 years the “temporary” personal-income tax increases included in the tax-raising Proposition 30 from 2012. The increases are applied on earnings of more than $250,000 for single filers and more than $500,000 for joint filers. Voters also agreed to boost the cigarette tax by $2 a pack — and other tobacco and nicotine products by equivalent amounts — by approving Proposition 56.

In a fairly close tally (51 percent to 49 percent), voters rejected Proposition 53, which was opposed by the business community and labor unions and would have subjected major infrastructure projects ($2 billion or more) to a statewide vote if they used revenue bonds. Such bonds are funded by revenues from the project (i.e., tolls) rather than general tax revenues. A variety of local tax increases also passed. California voters have moved a long way from the days of the 1970s-era tax revolt.

On social issues, Californians voted Tuesday in a reliably liberal way, as well. They supported, 63 percent to 37 percent, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s measure (Proposition 63) requiring background checks to purchase ammunition. They rejected an effort, by 8 percentage points, to require actors in adult films to wear condoms. They upheld a controversial new law (Proposition 67) banning grocery stores from handing out those single-use plastic bags and turned back an effort by the plastic-bag industry (Proposition 65) to redirect any bag fees from grocery stores to a state environmental fund. The latter was designed as payback to grocers and grocery unions for their role in the legislative deal that led to the plastic bag ban.

In another victory for liberal activists, voters approved — by an overwhelming 72 percent to 28 percent margin — Proposition 58, which overturns the state’s ban on bilingual education in public schools. That’s an educational program in which immigrant kids are taught largely in their native language. It was largely banned in 1998 by Proposition 227, whose supporters were concerned that native Spanish speakers were not learning English quickly enough. Prop. 58 did not get much attention this year, and its ballot designation suggested that a vote for 58 was a vote for preserving English proficiency.

Voters did, however, OK a significant political-reform measure by a wide margin (64 percent to 36 percent). Proposition 54 requires that the final version of any bill in the state Legislature be available in print for 72 hours, thus eliminating those controversial gut-and-amend bills in which new language is inserted at the last minute without public or media scrutiny. The measure also gives the public expanded rights to record the Legislature.

California voters also joined voters in Massachusetts, Nevada and (probably, based on close results) Maine in legalizing the recreational use of marijuana. Several other states approved medical marijuana – something that’s been legal in California since Proposition 215 passed in 1996. Given California’s immense size, this vote (Proposition 64) is viewed as a massive boost to an already-emerging marijuana industry – and to similar votes in other states in coming elections.

Voters approved Proposition 52, which extends a Medi-Cal hospital fee program that allows the state to collect federal reimbursements. It was backed by most of the state’s political establishment. Also passed was Proposition 59, which was an advisory vote asking whether state officials should support a constitutional amendment overturning the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, which invalidated certain limits on campaign spending. This was a largely meaningless initiative, but it garnered 52 percent of the vote.

Finally, voters rejected, 54 percent to 46 percent, a measure (Proposition 61) that would have capped the prices state agencies pay for prescription drugs. Opponents ran an aggressive campaign that no doubt contributed to its failure.

None of this was particular surprising, which is a surprise in and of itself. As the rest of the country defied the predictions, California went along with flow.

Steven Greenhut is Western region director for the R Street Institute. Write to him at sgreenhut@rstreet.org.

How much would a Democratic supermajority in Sacramento matter legislatively?

Good morning. Happy Election Day. There are so many storylines today, but the one we’re paying the most attention to is the balance of power in the California Legislature.

True, Democrats will still control the Legislature no matter what happens. But we’re interested in individual races, like Lopez/Bocanegra, and in how many women will get elected, particularly in the Assembly. The main thing we’re paying attention to is whether Democrats achieve a two-thirds “supermajority.” 

While that would be a major disaster for Republicans politically — if it were to happen — it would likely have little effect on the legislative process if recent history is any guide. 

In fact, most of the larger defeats over the last year or so have been due to intraparty fighting. It was mostly moderate Democrats who last year weakened landmark environmental legislation, SB350. This year, they struck again when they initially killed a measure expanding overtime protections for farmworkers.  

In those instances, the moderates formed a majority with Republicans, which means both share the blame (or praise). But while Republicans often get blamed, the truth is that there aren’t enough Republicans to block most votes. It was Democrats solely who twice sank a Democratic bill expanding parental leave — once by a Democratic majority on a policy committee (possibly due to a grudge) and then a revived version was vetoed by the Democratic governor, Jerry Brown.

Democrats need to flip two seats in the Assembly and one in the Senate to get a supermajority — and it’s possible. With a supermajority, Democrats would have the power to increase taxes, override gubernatorial vetoes (which rarely happens) and change legislative rules without Republican votes.

CalWatchdog has more.

In other news: 

• Here’s a rundown of the more competitive races we’ll be paying attention to.

• Just a reminder how important the U.S. Senate race is, at least from a cultural perspective.

• Non-election news: “Cal State students next year might see the first tuition increase system-wide in more than five years,” reports the San Bernardino County Sun. 

• “Air quality regulators are investigating metal-processing facilities in the city of Paramount after detecting a potent cancer-causing metal at 350 times normal levels,” reports the Los Angeles Times. 

Legislature:

• Gone till December. 

Gov. Brown: 

• Voting this morning around 8:30 a.m. at the Boys and Girls Club, 1117 G Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

Tips: matt@calwatchdog.com

Follow us: @calwatchdog @mfleming

New follower: @nazmulislambd16

Good morning. TGIF. A new poll out this morning suggests that voters will likely approve many of the 17 measures on the ballot. Of the 10 polled by the Field Poll/UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, voters appear ready to approve at least seven.

Included among those poised to pass is recreational marijuana. CalWatchdog has more.

In other news:

• Important election data point: “The U.S. economy added a less-than-expected 161,000 jobs in October and the unemployment rate stood at 4.9 percent as investors got to digest the final payrolls report before Tuesday’s presidential election.” CNBC has more.

• Drought improving? “A rainy October in Northern California has lifted about a quarter of the state out of drought conditions, the U.S. Drought Monitor reported Thursday. It’s the rosiest picture released by federal officials since the spring of 2013, when about 64% of the state was considered to be in “moderate drought” — or worse.” The Los Angeles Times has more. 

• Two top Assembly races: “Millions of dollars in outside money is pouring into two high-profile Assembly races in San Bernardino County, state records show.” The San Bernardino County Sun has more. 

• Just in time: “Congressman Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, says he will repay $49,000 to his campaign account after months of revelations that he used the fund for personal expenses.” The San Diego Union-Tribune has more. 

Legislature:

• Gone till December. 

Gov. Brown:

• No public events announced. 

Tips: matt@calwatchdog.com

Follow us: @calwatchdog @mflemingterp

New follower: @sseekatz

Trump supporters to “watch” polls next week

Good morning! TGIT. Two more days until the weekend and six more days until the election. 

And don’t be surprised if when you go to vote next Tuesday (if you haven’t embraced mail-in voting yet) someone is there watching you. According to the Riverside Press Enterprise:

“Supporters of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump have announced plans to observe Election Day voting throughout California. … Poll watchers can’t legally interfere with voting, interact with voters within 100 feet of a polling place or challenge a voter’s eligibility. But the leader of a pro-Trump veterans group said his people are prepared to call for help if they see anything suspicious.” 

In other news:

• One of the 17 measures voters will consider, Proposition 51, a $9-billion school bond, is struggling, according to polling from the last two months, despite the fact that school construction spending tends to be popular at the ballot box. The Los Angeles Times has more.

• In non-ballot measure election news, “Bay Area billionaire philanthropist Herb Sandler, who was among those blamed for the 2008 mortgage meltdown that triggered the financial crisis, has edged back into the spotlight thanks to the WikiLeaks hacking of the email account of Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman, John Podesta.” The San Jose Mercury News has more. 

• And speaking for the influence of the wealthy, “California lobbyist employers spent $84.4 million to advocate to officials and influence legislation from July 1 through September,” writes The Sacramento Bee. “NextGen Climate Action, a campaign committee led by billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer, topped the list of lobbyist employers, spending $7.3 million during the seventh quarter of the 2015-16 legislative session, according to state filings.”

• LA Weekly wonders if a Los Angeles Times investigation about questionable political contributions from a local developer will upend an L.A. County supervisorial race where Democratic Congresswoman Janice Hahn has been the frontrunner.

Legislature:

• Gone till December. 

Gov. Brown:

• Out on the trail, per Politico: “California Gov. Edmund J. Brown Jr., joined by Los Angeles firefighters, nurses, business and labor leaders, will detail his opposition to Proposition 53, the ballot measure that undermines local control by forcing a statewide vote on water, highway, and other local infrastructure projects.” Details: Thursday, 10 a.m., United Firefighters Headquarters, 1571 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90026

• Per Opposition to Prop 53 release: “California Gov. Edmund J. Brown Jr., joined by public safety and local government leaders, will detail his opposition to Proposition 53, the ballot measure that undermines local control by forcing a statewide vote on water, highway, and other local infrastructure projects.” Details: Thursday, November 3, 2016, 1 p.m. at IBEW 569 Union Hall, 4545 Viewridge Ave, Suite 100, San Diego.

Tips: matt@calwatchdog.com

Follow us: @calwatchdog @mflemingterp

New follower: @sheadeanda

Read more

November ballot fills out with 17 measures…

Good morning, happy Friday and welcome to July!

Voters have been warned for a while to be prepared for a seemingly never-ending series of ballot measures, and on Thursday the secretary of state released the final list of what initiatives qualified.

Seventeen total. And while voters will read and learn more as the campaigns unfold between now and Election Day, we put together a quick reference guide for your reading and learning pleasure.

The guide includes an increased tobacco tax, a repeal of the death penalty, a sped-up death penalty process, gun control, Legislature transparency, plastic-bag ban referendum, and so much more.

CalWatchog has more. 

In other news:

• Lawmakers can still get measures on the November ballot, which one senator is hoping to do with a $3 billion bond for low-income housing. The Los Angeles Times has more. 
• The Legislature sent 12 gun-control bills to Gov. Jerry Brown today, where it’s unclear how many he’ll sign. But we’ll know shortly as he’s headed out on vacation afterwards. The Sacramento Bee has more. 
• The state’s controversial vaccination law takes effect today, and it’s causing some people to move away, writes The San Jose Mercury News. 
• The San Bernardino County Sun explains why CA regulators want more money to improve air quality.

Assembly:

• Gone ’til August.

Senate: 

• Gone ’til August.

Gov. Brown:

• Headed for a European vacation.

Tips: matt@calwatchdog.com

Follow us: @calwatchdog @mflemingterp

New followers: @michaelkapp @ethnicphysician