By Dan Bacher

Fishermen, environmentalists and consumer advocates were disappointed - but not surprised - by the narrow defeat of Proposition 37, the initiative calling for the labeling of genetically engineered (GE) food in California, on November 6.

GE food opponents said they will be ramping up the campaign across the country to make GE labeling the law in the coming year and are already organizing in over a dozen states.

By Richard Holober
Consumer Federation of California

California voters rejected Proposition 33, an initiative placed on the ballot by billionaire George Joseph, owner of Mercury Insurance. Led by Consumer Watchdog, opponents came out of nowhere to stop Mercury Insurance's attempt to lure voters into deregulating automobile insurance. Outspent 70 to 1, we overcame a $17.5 million campaign of deception from Mercury's George Joseph.

By Dan Aiello

In San Francisco a local initiative put forth by environmentalists to return the Hetch Hetchy Valley to Yosemite Park for restoration by expanding the lower Don Pedro Dam was soundly defeated by voters, calling into question a long-held political belief that the city's electorate is 'Green' or progressive.

With all precincts reporting, San Francisco voters rejected the Measure to restore the valley John Muir called "one of the most precious mountain temples that ought to be faithfully guarded." It is said that it was Muir's loss to preserve the valley that contributed to his early death.

By Alan Kandel

Houston: We (California) have a problem, a Texas-sized problem.

With the climate change debate front-page news, the fight to combat air pollution is every bit as important in my book; perhaps even more so. If not, what is this saying?

California's San Joaquin Valley is the place I call home. The Valley is among the nation's worst offenders.

So that which is being spewed into the air in California's central interior, where is it coming from? The following is from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District.

By Richard Holober
Consumer Federation of California

One way to identify who Prop 33 helps and who it hurts is to follow the money behind the campaign.

The Yes on 33 campaign has outspent opponents by 65 to 1. Virtually all of the $17.7 million spent supporting Proposition 33 comes from one man - George Joseph, the billionaire owner of Mercury Insurance. Mr. Joseph has spent $17.5 million promoting Proposition 33. Another $165,000 in contributions to Yes on 33 are from insurance agents and brokers that do business with Mercury Insurance.

No on 33 has raised $275,000, with almost all donations coming from consumer groups and labor unions.

By Franky Carrillo

A new project at UC Berkeley Law School, the California Wrongful Convictions Project, has been studying the problem of innocent people in California convicted of crimes they did not commit, and they've just released their findings. I wish I could say I was shocked by what they found.

California currently leads the nation in wrongful convictions. With more than 200 innocent people locked up for crimes they did not commit since 1989, and 123 exonerations, California exceeds every other state in the US when it comes to this dubious distinction.

This came as no surprise to me. I was one of those 200 innocent people.

By Dan Aiello

Advocates of universal access to higher education fear California voters, faced with two competing education tax initiatives will fail both, effectively abandoning the state's historic commitment to provide access to higher education for all.

Proposition 30 will provide funding to California's K-12 schools, but additionally will fund the state's university, state college and community college systems to offset state budget cuts that have already endangered access to the educational opportunities once guaranteed all qualified students by the state under its Master Plan on Education.

Prop 30 will raise revenue through a temporary quarter cent sales tax increase and a temporary income tax increase on wealthier state residents.

By Zack Kaldveer

As a historic vote with profound implications for the future of our food system nears, the question becomes whether a campaign with limitless resources and a disdain for the truth can defeat an overwhelmingly popular idea supported by a grassroots army, and over 3000 public interest organizations: the right to know what's in the food we eat and feed our families.

Poll after poll showed 90% of Americans (and Californians) favored labeling foods that have been genetically engineered (GMOs) and nearly a million signatures were gathered by California volunteers in just 10 weeks - easily qualifying Prop 37 for the ballot. And as of the first week of October, the Yes on 37 campaign enjoyed a 2 to 1 lead in the polls.

By Richard Holober
Consumer Federation of California

In a stunning admission, billionaire George Joseph stated that his company, Mercury Insurance, does not offer its own customers the "persistence discount" that Proposition 33 promises all Californians would receive by "shopping their discount" around if the initiative is approved. Mr. Joseph has poured $17 million into the Prop 33 campaign.

The central Prop 33 argument is that consumers would benefit if they could ask other insurers to honor a "persistence" or "loyalty" discount their current insurer may grant them for being loyal customers for many years. Prop 33 ads promising voters would save if you could "shop your discount" verge on false advertising given the actual practice of the company Mr. Joseph owns.

By Malinda Markowitz, RN

It's time to get serious about protecting our schools, our basic healthcare services, and the public support so essential to assuring a civil society in California.

Attention Californians: We need to pass Proposition 30.

With the latest polls showing a real tightening on the measure, let's recall what is at stake, and take a harder look at who is financing the campaign against this vital measure.