June Primary: Californians Rejecting Prop 98—Landlords’ Hidden Agenda Scheme—But Approving Prop 99 Eminent Domain Reform, New PP

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) asked California likely voters for their opinions on the two statewide ballot propositions on the June election ballot, and the results show Prop 98, which would abolish renter protections is already losing while a rival measure to reform eminent domain, Prop 99, is ahead with the voters.

In their 33 page survey just released, the PPIC found Prop 98 losing amongst all voters 37% to 41% with 22% expressing no opinion, when asked the following question:

“Proposition 98 is called ‘Eminent Domain Limits on Government Authority Initiative Constitutional Amendment.’ It bars state and local governments from taking or damaging private property for private uses. It prohibits rent control and similar measures, eliminates deference to government in property rights cases, and changes condemnation rules. Fiscal impact includes increased costs to many governments due to the measure’s restrictions. The net statewide fiscal effect, however, probably would not be significant. If the June primary election were held today, would you vote yes or no on Proposition 98?”

Democrats, by a large 49% to 29% margin and independents by a 41% to 36% margin are rejecting Prop 98, while Republicans are in support by a 45% to 31% margin. It trails badly in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles regions and is tied in the Central Valley region and also tied within the margin of error of the poll (41% to 40%) in the “other Southern California” region. It is even losing already with those who own their own home by a statistically insignificant margin of 37% to 39% and is crushed by a 48% to 35% no vote from those who rent.

The explanation for this vote on Prop 98 can be found in the response to the following question posed by PPIC:

“Do you think rent control—that is, the ability of local governments to set limits on how much rents can be increased each year—is a good thing or a bad thing?”

53% of likely voters said they thought this was a “good thing” and only 39% were of the opinion that it was a “bad thing.” This included large majorities of Democrats—61% to 29%--and Independents 55% to 33%. Republicans by 55% to 40% said it was a “bad thing.” Only 8% of all likely voters have no opinion about this. Surprisingly, 41% of those who say rent control is a good thing say they would vote for Prop 98. This means the no on 98 campaign has opportunities to pick up additional no votes by emphasizing this feature of 98.