BIPARTISAN OPPOSITION TO PROPOSITION 45 SOARS

SACRAMENTO – Five Republican county organizations have announced their opposition to Proposition 45, the California Chamber of Commerce’s costly 41-page ballot initiative that would reduce local control, cost local governments millions and weaken California’s clean air, water, and public health laws.

The five county organizations – Del Norte, Fresno, Marin, San Luis Obispo, and Solano – all have officially urged local Republicans to vote No on the measure. A recent PPIC poll also noted low Republican support, with only 51 percent saying they would vote yes – a stunning decline of 10 percent from July. That number reflects the cratering of support for Prop 45 among all voters, which now has the support of less than half of those polled.

“It should be no surprise that there is increasing bipartisan opposition to the dangerous sweeping provisions of costly Prop 45,” says No on Prop 45 spokesman Woody Little. “California Democrats, Republicans and independents are discovering that its hundreds of million in costs to taxpayers, gutting of local review capabilities for polluting projects, and provisions that allow short cuts for the construction of data centers are strong reasons to vote No on Prop 45.”

The independent Legislative Analyst’s Office concluded the measure will likely cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.

Republicans also have shown opposition to the measure because of its language to minimize public input and speed the permitting of data centers. Organizations such as the Rural Counties Representatives of California also have warned about the dangers of Prop 45.

The California Democratic Party and dozens of its county organizations all have announced solid opposition to Prop 45 as well.

In addition, the California Working Families Party yesterday also announced its opposition to Prop 45.

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