The Daily 49er sat down with Nestor Moto, the president of the Long Beach State College Republicans, to discuss the ballot measures for 2014 midterm election.
Q: What is the Republican stance on Proposition 1?
A: We will vote yes on it. I was speaking to Senator Bob Huff, one of the co-authors of the proposition, the other day. He’s been trying to persuade us that it is a good idea; it’s a good way to start protecting our water, especially since this is our third year in drought in California. He’s endorsing it and brought up some good points, so we’re on board too.
Q: Why is this an important proposition for college students to be aware of and vote on?
A: This proposition allocates money to storage for our water, and because we’re still young, it is very important. If we don’t do this right now, there’s almost no chance it will happen later. These are preventative measures that Jerry Brown should have taken when he came into office, but it’s better now than never.
Q: How do you feel about the $425 million in value of unsold general obligation bonds that will be redirected to other programs to further benefit water treatment?
A: Like I said, we’re on board with it, but there’s not too much specifics on it, which is why we are urging Sen. Bob Huff to give us more information. We aren’t sure where that money goes to. The proposition says it goes to all these different water protection and treatment programs, but we want specifics before making a decision. But overall, it’s a good idea.
Q: There is much more support for this proposition than opposition; is this mostly Republican support?
A: No, this and Proposition 2 are the only ones with bipartisan support. All of the Republicans on the assembly and the state senate did vote for it. We’re on board with it because it’s just a good idea to finally start thinking about the importance of water in this state. Most people are oblivious to the drought in California. If people keep having this, “it doesn’t affect me” attitude, eventually it will.
Q: Is Proposition 2, which would designate half of the budget stabilization accounts revenues to pay back the state debt, a big issue for the Republicans?
A: Yes it is, at both the state and federal level. We really do need to start paying back our debt. This is the only other proposition we are on board with. Ultimately, it will benefit us down the road.
Q: Why are the Republicans against proposition 45?
A: This proposition allows decisions to be made by only one person, the Health Care Commissioner. That is too much power to be designated to one person, or maybe a subcommittee under the Commissioner, to decide when a health insurance company can change their rates or policies. I think in California in particular, we have grown to like bureaucracies, commissions and boards, and I think it is a better idea if we can do that directly rather than have someone do it for us.
Q: Proposition 46 deals with testing doctors for alcohol or drug use. What do you think about this?
A: I don’t see why doctors should have to be required to take a drug test, but welfare recipients are not. I find it to be a double standard. There are some bad doctors out there, but for the most part they have earned their title with years of school and practice, and I don’t think they have to get another layer of red tape around that, and that’s why we’re voting no on it.
Q: Proposition 47 would alter the law by requiring misdemeanor sentences instead of felonies for certain non-serious crimes. Persons now serving felony sentences for these crimes will be resentenced, unless the court can articulate unreasonable safety risk. How do the Republicans feel?
A: We’re voting no on that proposition. You may have some slip-ups where the crime was a misdemeanor but ruled a felony, but for the most part, judges and jurors opinionate the evaluation of things, and for the most part, they get it right. I don’t think that just because we want these people to get out earlier, we should lessen their sentences. I don’t think this a good proposition and most likely it will lose.
Q: Proposition 48 would ratify gaming compacts between California and two Native American tribes. How does the Republican Party feel about this?
A: The contested issue in this is that these two tribes are trying to build casinos on non-reservation land, so we’re voting no on it. If we approve it, it will open the door to possible other Native American tribes wanting to open up casinos on non-reservation land. They are a sovereign nation, so on their land, they can do whatever they want.
Q: Any other comments about the upcoming ballot?
A: We’re trying to motivate everyone, not just college students, to go out and vote this ballot. It is one of the most important parts of our democracy. If you vote, you have that much more power and say in what happens in our state. If you want to make a difference in your communities and your life, I would suggest you guys go out and vote.
Editor’s note: CSULB College Democrats did not respond to a Daily 49er reporter’s several requests for an interview on this subject.
