Don't Cram for February 5th!

By Gloria Penner / Senior Political Correspondent, KPBS Commentaries

Published January 29, 2008 at 4:48 PM PST

This story was published more than 16 years ago.

Let's take Propositions 94 , 95 , 96 , and 97 . Each deals with a separate Indian tribe, three in Riverside County and one in San Diego County. That's the only essential difference. Otherwise, they all would permit 3000 additional slot machines for each tribe. Those tribes then would pay a percentage of that revenue to the state, amounting to millions of dollars. More than $55 million has been raised in support of those propositions, mostly from the tribes whose casinos would grow to accommodate thousands of additional slot machines. The "No" side has raised about $19 million from smaller Indian tribes not benefitting from the expansion, from race tracks viewing the increased slots as increased competition for the gambling dollar, and from labor concerned that the propositions "fail to ensure the most basic rights for casino workers including affordable health insurance ."

Although the League of Women Voters stated in its January 2008 newsletter that "the League has not studied the issues concerning Indian gaming compacts and therefore has taken no position on these measures," the thoughtful voter can develop an opinion by spending 30 minutes reading the sample ballot at the very least and casting a wide net with Google or Yahoo search engines.

Certainly, Proposition 92 (a major change for community college funding and governance) and Proposition 93 (changing term limits for state legislators) are worth 30 minutes each in research. Proposition 91 (a Constitutional Amendment to restrict gas tax revenues to transportation projects) may take less time since no argument was submitted against it and the official proponents are encouraging a "no" vote on the proposition. To find out more about this mystifying turn of events, you'll need to do your own research.

Become a KPBS sponsor

So, add it all up, and we're talking about two hours out of your next several days. If you start tonight and only spend about 20 minutes a day, you'll face Election Day with a clear head and some well deserved self-satisfaction.

Gloria Penner

twitter

KPBS remembers Gloria Penner, Senior Political Correspondent and host of "KPBS Midday Edition- Roundtable" on Fridays at noon. Gloria was the host "San Diego Week" from 2008-2011 and also hosted the first hour of KPBS Radio's "These Days" from 1995 to 1999. She served as the host of KPBS TV's "Full Focus" from 2003 to 2007. Gloria first joined KPBS Television in 1969 as director of community relations. Subsequently, she oversaw production of television programs for nine years. From 1993 to 1995, she was the host and writer for "KPBS Weekend Edition," a locally produced television program featuring highlights from the MacNeil/Lehrer News Hour. National credits include reporting and producing assignments for "Nightly Business Report" and the "MacNeil/Lehrer News Hour." She played an active part in KPBS’ election coverage for 30 years. She has moderated scores of town hall meetings on candidates races and propositions for KPBS, "Envision San Diego," and the League of Women Voters. She conducted scores of interviews with congressional, state and local candidates; and reported for television documentaries on issues and candidates. Her awards include 7 Emmys, 5 Golden Mikes, 2 Gracies from the American Federation of Women in Radio and Television, The San Diego Press Club’s Harold Keen Award for excellence in journalism, the John Swett Award from the California Teachers Association, and many honors from the Society for Professional Journalists and the San Diego Bar Association. An annual Gloria Penner Award for Civic Service was established in 2003 by the League of Women Voters of San Diego County, and Gloria was the first recipient. Gloria earned her bachelor’s degree from Brooklyn College. She did graduate work in English at New York University and earned her Master’s Degree in English from Syracuse University. She started her radio career in San Francisco in the 1950s as an associate producer on a program called Housewives Protective League. Her first job in television came after a move to Washington, D.C. where she was associate producer of the Washington segment of the "Today Show." After a stint in Hawaii and a return to Washington, D.C., she relocated to San Diego and took a few years off for family life. Gloria is survived by her husband Bill Snyder of La Jolla; two sons, Brad Penner of San Diego and Steve Penner of Tucson, Arizona.

See stories by Gloria Penner