While high-profile initiative races on abortion and gay marriage remained too close to call this morning, California voters overwhelmingly backed an initiative banning cramped caging practices for farm animals and approved bond measures for children's hospitals and veterans' home loans.
The state drew national attention for Proposition 2, which will require farmers to house California's 19 million egg-laying hens in ways that allow them to lie down, stand up, extend their limbs and turn around. Farmers who violate the law could face fines, imprisonment or both.
Advocates said the initiative, including the Humane Society of the United States, would prevent cruelty to animals and improve food safety because hens would be healthier. Industry groups charged that the initiative would increase the cost of eggs and drive some farmers out of business. They also suggested it would put consumers at risk as stores import more eggs produced under lax regulations out-of-state.
With 91 percent of precincts reporting, Proposition 2 had support from 63 percent of voters.
Californians rejected $5 billion in bonds to pay for rebates for alternative-fuel vehicles under Proposition 10, but they authorized $980 million in bonds for children's hospitals and $900 million in bonds for veterans' home loans.
The hospital bonds, Proposition 3, will pay for renovation, expansion or equipment at five University of California hospitals and eight nonprofit facilities. The hospitals bankrolled the campaign after successfully pushing a smaller version of the bonds four years ago. Taxpayer watchdog groups opposed the initiative, citing the state's ongoing budget deficit problems.
With 91 percent of precincts reporting, Proposition 3 had 55 percent support.
The other approved bond plan, Proposition 12, will extend the existing Cal-Vet program and allow veterans to buy homes and farms at below-market interest rates. The measure had 63 percent support, marking the 27th time California voters have approved bonds for the program.
Voters approved Proposition 9, which will amend the state constitution to require that crime victims be notified of all public proceedings and have input on phases of the criminal justice process. It also will prioritize restitution payments to victims above other fines an offender may owe. The plan was backed by 53 percent of voters.
Proposition 9 was placed on the ballot with funding from billionaire Henry T. Nicholas III, who has since been indicted on drug, prostitution and fraud charges.
Voters rejected a separate initiative backed by Nicholas, Proposition 6, which would have required the state to spend a minimum of $965 million a year on local law enforcement and created new crimes. It was backed by state Sen. George Runner, R-Lancaster, and his wife, Assemblywoman Sharon Runner, as an anti-crime initiative.
But teachers and firefighters opposed the plan because they said it threatened funding for other public programs. The initiative only received 30 percent support.
Voters rejected two other measures:
• Proposition 5, which would have allocated $460 million each year to expand drug treatment programs and limit court authority to put some offenders behind bars. The initiative was backed by billionaire George Soros but opposed by five Democratic and Republican governors.
• Proposition 7, which would have required that half the state's electricity come from windmills, solar panels and other renewable sources by 2025. Television ads for Proposition 7 attacked investor-owned utilities for bankrolling the effort to defeat the measure. But opponents, including the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, said the measure would actually undermine expansion of renewable energy sources by blocking smaller producers.
Four ballot proposals remained unresolved early today. Proposition 8, which would establish a constitutional ban on gay marriage, had 52 percent support with 91 percent of precincts reporting. A proposal to create an independent commission to draw California's legislative districts, Proposition 11, was narrowly ahead with 51 percent support.
A measure asking voters to authorize nearly $10 billion in bonds to establish a high-speed rail system in California, Proposition 1A, had 52 percent support. And 53 percent of voters opposed Proposition 4, which would require doctors to notify a parent or guardian before performing an abortion on a girl younger than 18.
