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LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
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State of California November 2, 2004 Election
Proposition 67
Emergency Medical Services. Funding. Telephone Surcharge
State of California

Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute

3,238,537 / 28.4% Yes votes ...... 8,154,515 / 71.6% No votes

See Also: Index of all Propositions

Results as of Dec 6 4:02pm, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (24035/24035)
Information shown below: Summary | Fiscal Impact | Yes/No Meaning | Official Information | Arguments |

Should the telephone surcharge be increased and other funds for emergency room physicians, hospital emergency rooms, community clinics, emergency personnel training/equipment, and 911 telephone system be allocated?

Summary Prepared by Attorney General:
  • Provides funding to physicians for uncompensated emergency care, hospitals for emergency services, community clinics for uncompensated care, emergency personnel training/equipment, and emergency telephone system improvements.
  • Funded by addition of 3% to existing surcharge rate on telephone use within California, portions of tobacco taxes, and criminal and traffic penalties.
  • Limits surcharge collected by residential telephone service providers to 50 cents per month. Monthly cap does not apply to cell phones or business lines.
  • Excludes funding from government appropriations limitations, and telephone surcharge from Proposition 98's school spending requirements

Fiscal Impact from the Legislative Analyst:
Increased state revenues of about $500 million annually to reimburse physicians and hospitals for uncompensated emergency medical services and other specified purposes. Continues $32 million in state funding for physicians and clinics for uncompensated medical care.

Meaning of Voting Yes/No
A YES vote of this measure means:
The state would impose a 3 percent emergency telephone surcharge, in addition to the existing surcharge, on bills for telephone services for calls made within the state. These revenues would be used to provide additional funds to reimburse physicians and hospitals for uncompensated emergency and trauma care and to fund other specified programs.

A NO vote of this measure means:
A NO vote on this measure means: The emergency telephone number surcharge would continue to be limited to 0.75 percent on bills for telephone services for calls made within the state. Additional funding to reimburse physicians and hospitals for uncompensated emergency and trauma care, or for other specified programs, would continue to depend largely upon action by the Legislature and Governor.

Official Sources of Information
Arguments Submitted

Summary of Arguments FOR Proposition 67:
FIREFIGHTERS, PARAMEDICS, DOCTORS, AND NURSES SAY: PROP. 67 will make sure emergency medical care is available when you and your family need it most. Emergency rooms are closing. Others are severely overcrowded. Paramedics, emergency room doctors, and nurses are overwhelmed. SAVE EMERGENCY CARE. SAVE LIVES. YES ON PROP. 67.

Full Text of Argument In Favor

Summary of Arguments AGAINST Proposition 67:
Prop. 67 is a $540 million phone tax--a tax on talking. There's no cap on cell phone or business phone taxes. More than 1 million seniors will be affected. 90% of the money goes to large health care corporations and special interests--with no mandatory audits or financial controls.

Full Text of Argument Against

Contact FOR Proposition 67:
Coalition to Preserve Emergency Care, sponsored by fire-fighters, paramedics, doctors, nurses, and healthcare providers-Yes on 67
191 Ridgeway Avenue
Oakland, CA 94611
650-306-0495
info@saveemergencycare.org
http://www.saveemergencycare.org

Contact AGAINST Proposition 67:
No on 67-Californians to Stop the Phone Tax
916-930-0688
http://www.stopthephonetax.com

  Official Information

Secretary of State

Campaign Finance Information Legislative Analysts's Office Nonpartisan Information

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Created: December 15, 2004 13:39 PST
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