A Jackpot for Education

Education was the big winner Tuesday.

Deplorable though the election was -- dismal turnout, bland candidates, relentless negative television ads -- once again California voters generally chose well on the ballot propositions.

A majority of near-landslide proportions -- 59% -- backed higher-quality education by voting for Proposition 47, a $13.5-billion bond issue for construction and renovation of public school buildings and college and university facilities. By a like margin, voters in the Los Angeles Unified School District approved a $3.3-billion school construction bond measure. The district can use that money to match the money it will get from the state.

Statewide, voters approved a $2.1-billion bond issue for low-income housing and shelters and a $3.4-billion issue for a variety of water supply projects and to buy pristine lands that are threatened with development.

Unfortunately, they also supported Proposition 49, the initiative put on the ballot by Arnold Schwarzenegger to divert $550 million a year from the state’s general fund to pay for after-school programs. The idea is commendable, but with the state facing a budget crisis this is not a good time to earmark so much money to start a new program. The governor and Legislature should decide spending priorities.

The Proposition 49 campaign gave Schwarzenegger wide exposure in the political arena, leading to speculation that this campaign was a warmup for a GOP run for governor in 2006. “I’ll be back,” the actor-turned-activist vowed. But he said it would be to help implement the program.

Voters were more discerning in rejecting two ballot initiatives: Proposition 51, to dedicate about $1 billion a year in sales taxes to a long list of dubious transportation projects; and Proposition 52, to allow prospective voters to register at the polls on election day, a possible invitation to voter fraud. Proposition 51 was bankrolled primarily by interests that would have benefited from projects financed by the measure. Both initiatives lost decisively even though the sponsors advertised extensively on television and there was little visible opposition. People saw through the misleading ads and voted smart.