California Proposition 61 (2016)

Last updated
Proposition 61
State Prescription Drug Purchase Standards
Results
Votes %
Yes check.svg Yes 6,254,34246.80%
X mark.svg No7,109,64253.20%
Valid votes 13,363,98491.47%
Invalid or blank votes 1,246,5258.53%
Total votes14,610,509100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 19,411,77175.27%
Source: California Secretary of State [1]

Proposition 61 is a California ballot proposition that appeared on the November 8, 2016 ballot. It would have prohibited the state of California from buying any prescription drug from a drug manufacturer at price over the lowest price paid for the drug by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. It would have exempted managed care programs funded through Medi-Cal. [2] According to the fiscal impact statement issued by California Legislative Analyst's Office, "potential for state savings of an unknown amount depending on (1) how the measure’s implementation challenges are addressed and (2) the responses of drug manufacturers regarding the provision and pricing of their drugs." [3]

California ballot proposition statewide referendum item in California

In California, a ballot proposition can be a referendum or an initiative measure that is submitted to the electorate for a direct decision or direct vote. If passed, it can alter one or more of the articles of the Constitution of California, one or more of the 29 California Codes, or another law in the California Statutes by clarifying current or adding statute(s) or removing current statute(s).

United States Department of Veterans Affairs department of the United States government

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a federal Cabinet-level agency that provides near-comprehensive healthcare services to eligible military veterans at VA medical centers and outpatient clinics located throughout the country; several non-healthcare benefits including disability compensation, vocational rehabilitation, education assistance, home loans, and life insurance; and provides burial and memorial benefits to eligible veterans and family members at 135 national cemeteries.

The California Medical Assistance Program is California's Medicaid program serving low-income individuals, including families, seniors, persons with disabilities, children in foster care, pregnant women, and childless adults with incomes below 138% of federal poverty level. Benefits include ambulatory patient services, emergency services, hospitalization, maternity and newborn care, mental health and substance use disorder treatment, dental (Denti-Cal), vision, and long term care and supports. Approximately 13.3 million people were enrolled in Medi-Cal as of January 2018, or about one-third of California's population; in Tulare County and Merced County, more than 50% of county residents were enrolled as of September 2015.

Contents

Proposition 61 was rejected by a vote of 47 to 53 percent. [4]

Reactions & Analysis

Supporters

Individuals

Bernie Sanders United States Senator from Vermont

Bernard Sanders is an American politician who has served as the junior United States Senator from Vermont since 2007. The longest-serving Independent in congressional history, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1990 and caucuses with the Democratic Party, enabling his appointment to congressional committees and at times giving Democrats a majority.

Mike Honda American politician

Michael Makoto Honda is an American politician and former educator. Initially involved in education in California, he first became active in politics in 1971, when San Jose mayor Norman Mineta appointed Honda to the city's Planning Commission. After holding other positions, Honda was elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors in 1990, and to the California State Assembly in 1996, where he served until 2001. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in Congress from 2001 to 2017.

Robert Reich American political economist

Robert Bernard Reich is an American political commentator, professor, and author. He served in the administrations of Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton. He was Secretary of Labor from 1993 to 1997. He was a member of President-elect Barack Obama's economic transition advisory board.

Organizations

AIDS Healthcare Foundation AIDS service organization in Los Angeles, founded 1987

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is a Los Angeles-based global nonprofit provider of HIV prevention services, testing, and healthcare for HIV patients. AHF currently claims to provide medical care and services to more than 1 million individuals in 43 countries worldwide.

The California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (CNA/NNOC), is a labor union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States. CNA/NNOC has a four-member Council of Presidents, currently including Deborah Burger, RN; Zenei Cortez, RN; DeAnn McEwen, RN; and Malinda Markowitz, RN. The executive director of the CNA/NNOC is Bonnie Castillo.

Parties

Progressive Democrats of America organization

The Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) is a progressive political organization and grassroots political action committee operating inside and outside of the United States Democratic Party.

Opponents

Organizations

The California Medical Association (CMA) is a professional organization representing more than 43,000 physicians in the state of California. The organization was founded in 1856 and is a constituent organization of the American Medical Association.

Veterans of Foreign Wars American war veterans organization

The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is an American war veterans organization headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. The Veterans of Foreign Wars was established by James C. Putnam on September 29, 1899, in Columbus, Ohio. The organization's membership consists of veterans who, as soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, and coast guardsmen served the United States in wars, campaigns, and expeditions on foreign soil or in hostile waters.

The California Taxpayers Association is an advocacy organization in the U.S. state of California founded in 1926 to promote lower taxes in the state. The association, also known simply as CalTax, serves its members through research and advocacy on significant tax and spending issues in the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government. CalTax is led by President Teresa Casazza, a certified public accountant with many years of experience working on tax policy.

Parties

Public Opinion

Public opinion on Proposition 61
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
% support % opposition % Undecided/Don't Know
Field/YouGov October 25–31, 2016 998 LV N/A47%47% 6%
Hoover Institution/YouGov October 4–14, 2016 1248 LV ± 3.28%51% 24% 25%
Field/YouGov September 7–13, 2016 943 LV N/A50% 16% 34%
USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times [note 1] September 1–8, 2016 1912 RV ± 3%66% 23% 12%

Notes

  1. Totals do not sum to 100% due to rounding

Related Research Articles

2005 California special election

The California special election of 2005 was held on November 8, 2005 after being called by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on June 13, 2005.

November 2008 California elections

The California state elections, November 2008 were held on November 4, 2008 throughout California. Among the elections taking place were those for the office of President of the United States, all the seats of California's delegation to the House of Representatives, all of the seats of the State Assembly, and all of the odd-numbered seats of the State Senate. Twelve propositions also appeared on the ballot. Numerous local elections also took place throughout the state.

2008 California Proposition 6

California Proposition 6, also known as the Safe Neighborhoods Act and The Runner Initiative, is a statutory initiative that appeared on the November 2008 ballot in California. This proposition was rejected by voters on November 4 of that year.

1996 California elections

California's state general elections were held November 5, 1996. Necessary primary elections were held on March 26, 1996. Up for election were all eighty (80) seats of the State Assembly, twenty (20) seats of the State Senate, and fifteen (15) statewide ballot measures.

2008 Arizona Proposition 102

Arizona Proposition 102 was an amendment to the constitution of the state of Arizona adopted by a ballot measure held in 2008. It added Article 30 of the Arizona Constitution, which says: "Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state." The amendment added a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage to existing statutory bans in place since 1996. In October 2014, Article 30 of the Arizona Constitution was struck down as unconstitutional in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, and is no longer enforced by the state of Arizona, which now allows and recognizes same-sex marriages.

2008 California Proposition 3

Proposition 3 is a law that was enacted by California voters by means of the initiative process. It is a bond issue that authorizes $980 million in bonds, to be repaid from state’s General Fund, to fund the construction, expansion, remodeling, renovation, furnishing and equipping of children’s hospitals. The annual payment on the debt authorized by the initiative is approximately $64 million a year. Altogether, the measure would cost about $1.9 billion over 30 years out of California's general fund.

2008 California Proposition 5

California Proposition 5, or the Nonviolent Offender Rehabilitation Act was an initiated state statute that appeared as a ballot measure on the November 2008 ballot in California. It was disapproved by voters on November 4 of that year.

2008 California Proposition 11

Proposition 11 of 2008 was a law enacted by California voters that placed the power to draw electoral boundaries for State Assembly and State Senate districts in a Citizens Redistricting Commission, as opposed to the State Legislature. To do this the Act amended both the Constitution of California and the Government Code. The law was proposed by means of the initiative process and was put to voters as part of the November 4, 2008 state elections. In 2010, voters passed Proposition 20 which extended the Citizen Redistricting Commission's power to draw electoral boundaries to include U.S. House seats as well.

2008 California Proposition 7

California Proposition 7, would have required California utilities to procure half of their power from renewable resources by 2025. In order to make that goal, levels of production of solar, wind and other renewable energy resources would more than quadruple from their current output of 10.9%. It would also require California utilities to increase their purchase of electricity generated from renewable resources by 2% annually to meet Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) requirements of 40% in 2020 and 50% in 2025. Current law AB32 requires an RPS of 20% by 2010.

2008 California Proposition 10

California Proposition 10, also known as the California Alternative Fuels Initiative, was an unsuccessful initiated state statute that appeared on the November 2008 ballot in California. Proposition 10 was funded byClean Energy Fuels Corp. a corporation owned by T. Boone Pickens. Clean Energy Fuels Corp. is the nation's leading operator of natural gas vehicle fueling stations.

2008 California Proposition 12

Proposition 12 appeared on the November 4, 2008 ballot in California. It is also known as the Veterans' Bond Act of 2008. The measure was legislatively referred to the ballot in Senate Bill 1572. The primary sponsor of SB 1572 was Senator Mark Wyland, R-Carlsbad. The vote to place the measure on the ballot was passed unanimously in both the California state senate (39-0) and assembly (75-0).

2010 California Proposition 20

A California Congressional Redistricting Initiative, Proposition 20 was on the November 2, 2010 ballot in California. It was approved by 61.2% of voters. Election officials announced on May 5 that the proposition had collected sufficient signatures to qualify for the ballot. The measure is known by its supporters as the VOTERS FIRST Act for Congress.

2010 California Proposition 19

California Proposition 19 was a ballot initiative on the November 2, 2010 statewide ballot. It was defeated, with 53.5% of California voters voting "No" and 46.5% voting "Yes." If passed, it would have legalized various marijuana-related activities, allowed local governments to regulate these activities, permitted local governments to impose and collect marijuana-related fees and taxes, and authorized various criminal and civil penalties. In March 2010, it qualified to be on the November statewide ballot. The proposition required a simple majority in order to pass, and would have taken effect the day after the election. Yes on 19 was the official advocacy group for the initiative and California Public Safety Institute: No On Proposition 19 was the official opposition group.

2012 California Proposition 39

Proposition 39 is a ballot initiative in the state of California that modifies the way out-of-state corporations calculate their income tax burdens. The proposition was approved by voters in the November 6 general election, with 61.1% voting in favor of it.

2012 California Proposition 37

Proposition 37 was a California ballot measure rejected in California at the statewide election on November 6, 2012. This initiative statute would have required labeling of genetically engineered food, with some exceptions. It would have disallowed the practice of labeling genetically engineered food with the word "natural." This proposition was one of the main concerns by the organizers of the March Against Monsanto in May 2013.

2012 California Proposition 34

Proposition 34 was a California ballot measure that was decided by California voters at the statewide election on November 6, 2012. It sought to repeal Proposition 17, originally passed by voters in 1972, thus abolishing the death penalty in California.

2012 California Proposition 30

Proposition 30, officially titled Temporary Taxes to Fund Education, is a California ballot measure that was decided by California voters at the statewide election on November 6, 2012. The initiative is a measure to increase taxes to prevent US$6 billion cuts to the education budget for California state schools. The measure was approved by California voters by a margin of 55 to 45 percent.

2014 California elections

In California state elections, 2014 was the first year in which the top statewide offices were elected under the nonpartisan blanket primary, pursuant to Proposition 14, which passed with 53% voter approval in June 2010. Under this system, which first went into effect during the 2012 election year, all candidates will appear on the same ballot, regardless of party. In the primary, voters may vote for any candidate, regardless of their party affiliation. The top two finishers, regardless of party, then advance to face each other in the general election in November.

The Ohio Drug Price Relief Act was a ballot initiative in Ohio that would have made the state pay no higher of a price for prescription drugs than the lowest price that the United States Department of Veterans Affairs pays for them. It was voted on November 7, 2017 as Issue 2 on the ballot. The act was originally going to be voted on in November 2016, but the measure did not receive enough signatures. It was mostly funded by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the same organization that backed California Proposition 61. Supporters of the act said that it would lower drug prices and help save the state money, while opposers said that it is unworkable.

References

  1. "Statement of Vote - November 8, 2016, General Election". December 16, 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  2. "Proposition 61. California General Election November 8, 2016. Official Voter Information Guide". California Secretary of State. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  3. Taylor, Mac; Cohen, Michael. "Fiscal Impact Statement" (PDF). State of California Department of Justice Office of the Attorney General. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  4. Sernoffsky, Evan (November 9, 2016). "California voters reject drug-price measure Prop 61". SFGate. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  5. Mai-Duc, Christine; Bollag, Sophia (2016-11-07). "Bernie Sanders campaigns for Prop. 61 in California"Lock-blue-alt-2.svg . Los Angeles Times. tronc, Inc. Archived from the original on November 8, 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Mai-Duc, Christine (2016-11-04). "What you need to know about Prop. 61, the spendy prescription drug measure on November's ballot"Lock-blue-alt-2.svg . Los Angeles Times. tronc, Inc. Archived from the original on November 8, 2016.
  7. Karlin-Smith, Sarah; Norman, Brett (2016-08-22). "Part D pricing trends". Politico.com. Politico. Archived from the original on August 22, 2016.
  8. The Communications Committee (2016-09-01). "The Statewide Ballot Measures". Peace and Freedom Party. Archived from the original on November 9, 2016.
  9. "Progressive Democrats of America". Progressive Democrats of America Facebook page. 2016-10-29. Archived from the original on November 10, 2016.
  10. Mai-Duc, Christine (2016-10-31). "The Rev. Al Sharpton and civil rights leaders hold rally in support of Proposition 61"Lock-blue-alt-2.svg . The Los Angeles Times. tronc, Inc. Archived from the original on November 1, 2016.
  11. "We Oppose Proposition 61" (PDF). Veterans of Foreign Wars - Department of California. 2016-07-29. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-11-11.
  12. "Proposition 61: Mandated Cap on Drug Prices" (PDF). California Taxpayers Association. 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 9, 2016.
  13. "Vote No: Proposition 61". The Republican Party of California. 2016. Archived from the original on November 9, 2016.
  14. "Measures". Libertarian Party of California. 2016-08-21. Archived from the original on October 21, 2016.
  15. "November 8, 2016 Endorsements". Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club. 2016-08-17. Archived from the original on November 9, 2016.