California Propositions 2018: Election Results

LOS ANGELES, CA — Billions of dollars and even the time of day were at stake this Election Day as California voters weighed in on nearly a dozen ballot measures. In the end, however, despite fierce battles and millions spent campaigning, none of the measures were even close.

California voters came out handily against the gas tax repeal and against Daylight Savings. Voters also opted not to lift restrictions on rent control, and they chose not to impose restrictions on profits for dialysis centers. Instead, Golden State voters approved a series of bond measures to support children's hospitals, affordable housing for veterans, and mental health services and housing for the homeless. They also chose to improve the quality of life for farm animals, requiring more space for caged livestock.

Check out up to the minute election results here for all 11 statewide propositions:

52.1%

The hot-button issues on the ballot appeared to be Proposition 6, Proposition 8 and Proposition 10.

Proposition 6, known as the gas tax repeal, sputtered in the early days of the campaign but surged in the polls as election day drew near before falling flat again on Election Day.

Proposition 6 sought to repeal the gas tax known as the Road Repair and Accountability Act that California voters passed in 2017. The tax raises $52.4 billion between 2017 and 2027 through vehicle fees and by increasing the gas tax $0.12 per gallon and the diesel fuel tax $0.20 per gallon. The billions raised go toward road repairs and transportation improvements across the state. A vote for Prop. 6 would have eliminated the tax and defunds the transportation projects. It further would have required voter and legislative approval as well as the governor's signature to impose future fuel taxes or vehicle fees. A SurveyUSA poll released Monday had the measure passing by 12 percent of voters.

Proposition 8, the subject of the most expensive campaign of all 11 measures, also appeared to be passing according to the SurveyUSA poll only to fail on Election Day. Proposition 8 would have required dialysis clinics to refund to patients or insurance companies any revenue above 115 percent of the costs of direct patient care and health care improvements. For such a niche topic, a lot of money was being poured into the 'Yes on 8' and 'No on 8' campaigns - $128.28 million, according to Ballotpedia.

Its supporters — primarily clinic worker unions — contended the measure would create the incentive for clinics to put profits into healthcare improvements including direct patient care service, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies.

Its opponents — primarily the dialysis clinic industry — argued that Proposition 8 would result in clinic closures because so many of the costs of running a clinic aren't included under the umbrella of healthcare improvements.

Here is a rundown of the ballot measures:

Proposition 1

Proposition 1 is a $4 billion bond measure to fund housing programs benefiting low-income residents and veterans. The measure would earmark $1.5 billion for multi-family housing for low-income Californians, along with $1 billion to help veterans purchase homes or farms. It would also provide $450 million for "infill" and transit-oriented projects, $300 million for farmworker housing and $300 million for manufactured and mobile homes. According to the state, the bond issue would cost roughly $170 million annually for 35 years.

Proposition 2

Proposition 2 would authorize the sale of $2 billion in bonds, repaid with funds from the 2004 Mental Health Services Act, to provide housing and mental health services for the homeless.

Proposition 3

Proposition 3 is a nearly $8.9 billion bond measure aimed at funding a variety of water projects. The measure would bankroll projects targeting water quality, water delivery, groundwater storage, fish and wildlife habitats and dam and reservoir repair. According to the state, the bonds would cost about $430 million annually over the next 40 years to repay.

Proposition 4

Proposition 4 is a $1.5 billion bond measure to fund construction, expansion and equipment for children's hospitals across the state, including Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Children's Hospital of Orange County, Miller Children's Hospital in Long Beach and Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego. Funds would also be provided to children's hospitals at University of California medical campuses, including UCLA, UC Irvine and UC San Diego. The repayment cost is estimated at $80 million annually for 35 years.

Proposition 5

Proposition 5 would extend property tax relief measures to homeowners who are severely disabled or aged 55 or older, eliminating the so- called "moving penalty" incurred when people move into a new home.

Proposition 6

Proposition 6 would repeal the hikes that took effect in November 2017, raising the tax by 12 cents per gallon for gasoline and 20 cents per gallon for diesel fuel. The increases included in Senate Bill 1, the Road Repair & Accountability Act of 2017, are projected to raise $5.2 billion a year, with the money earmarked for road and bridge repairs.

Opponents of the gas tax gathered more than 640,000 petition signatures across the state in an initiative drive to put the repeal effort on the ballot. The drive was spearheaded by former San Diego City Councilman Carl DeMaio, and it was funded in part by Republican gubernatorial candidate John Cox.

Opponents of the Proposition 10 have blasted the measure, insisting that repealing the gas tax would eliminate funding for transportation projects statewide. In Los Angeles, a recent City Administrative Office report estimated that eliminating SB1 funding would cost the city $34.5 million in funding this fiscal year alone, while the county could lose more than $1 billion.

Proposition 7

Proposition 7 would allow the state Legislature, on a two-thirds vote, to opt out of daylight saving time, or to make it permanent, eliminating the need for Californians to change their clocks twice a year. Proponents call it a health measure, saying the time changes disrupt sleep and raise the risk of heart attack and stroke. But opponents say it will put the state "out of sync" with most of the nation.

Proposition 8

Proposition 8 would limit the amount kidney dialysis clinics can charge patients, restricting the charges primarily to direct patient care and quality improvements. It would also require clinics to rebate money it collects in a given year over a specified cap. Proponents claim some clinics wildly overcharge patients without investing in quality care, putting patients' health at risk. Opponents, however, claim the measure's financial restrictions will force community dialysis clinics to close, making it more difficult for patients to undergo treatment or forcing them to go to hospital emergency rooms.

Proposition 10

Prop 10 would repeal the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, which bans local rent control on single-family homes and on any housing units built after 1995. Costa-Hawkins also prohibits laws that limit rent increases for new tenants. Costa-Hawkins also froze local rent control laws at the year of their passage, which in Los Angeles was 1978.

Supporters of Prop 10 say it will help keep tenants from being pushed into homelessness by skyrocketing rents. Opponents say it could discourage new housing from being built and encourage landlords to leave the rental market, which could exacerbate a housing shortage and actually drive up rents.

The measure comes as California and its major cities are dealing with a surge in homelessness and as the cost of housing has risen dramatically in urban areas.

Proposition 11

Proposition 11 would require private ambulance crews to remain on call to respond to emergencies even while they are on legally required meal or rest breaks. Backers of the measure say it will ensure the fastest response to emergency calls by ensuring the closest crew responds, even if the crew is on break at the time. Opponents say that by eliminating breaks, the measure will result in over-worked crews that won't be fully effective when they respond to calls.

Proposition 12

Proposition 12 would establish specific size requirements for cages or pens that house egg-laying hens, breeding pigs or veal calves. It would also require egg-laying hens to be raised in a cage-free environment beginning in 2022. Proponents call the measure a simple issue of preventing animal cruelty by ensuring the animals are not penned in overly restrictive cages. Opponents claim the measure doesn't add any new protection for animals beyond what voters approved a decade ago, and actually delays for seven years the cage- free requirement that voters already approved.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.

NOVEMBER 06: Voters prepare to cast their ballots in the midterm elections at a polling place on November 6, 2018 in Los Angeles, United States. Political races across the country are being hotly contested for House and Senate seats. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)