State-Funded Design and Engineering Services. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
	Rebuttal to Argument in Favor of Proposition 224

   deception: n. the practice of deceiving or misleading

The STATE BUREAUCRATS BEHIND PROPOSITION 224 and their political cronies are trying to deceive you.

Ask yourself: Would a state bureaucrats group (mostly Caltrans employees) really spend millions of dollars on a ballot measure to protect YOUR interests? Not likely.

--Will Proposition 224 save taxpayers money? No. Proposition 224 SHIFTS PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS TO the PUBLIC PAYROLL. BIGGER GOVERNMENT. HIGHER TAXES. That's why the CALIFORNIA TAXPAYERS' ASSOCIATION and other MAJOR TAXPAYER GROUPS OPPOSE IT.

--Will it make bidding more competitive? No. Talk about the ULTIMATE DECEPTION! DISGUISED as "competitive bidding," Proposition 224 RIGS the SYSTEM to PROTECT STATE BUREAUCRATS AGAINST COMPETITION from the private sector by virtually PROHIBITING STATE and LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM CONTRACTING OUT design, engineering and environmental work.

--Will it save lives? No. It virtually ELIMINATES the USE of PRIVATE SEISMIC EXPERTS, DELAYING and COMPROMISING ALREADY OVERDUE EARTHQUAKE RETROFITTING of HIGHWAYS, SCHOOLS and HOSPITALS.

"Proposition 224 will also delay construction of additional classrooms needed to reduce class sizes and accommodate the growth in student population." --California State PTA

--Will it increase accountability? No. Proposition 224 LETS STATE BUREAUCRATS OFF THE HOOK! Current law already holds private contractors fully liable for their mistakes. Proposition 224 could also hold them responsible for DANGEROUS HIGHWAY AND BRIDGE DESIGN MISTAKES MADE BY CALTRANS EMPLOYEES (the bureaucrats promoting this deceptive initiative).

BIGGER GOVERNMENT.

HIGHER TAXES.

LESS ACCOUNTABILITY.

DON'T LET THE BUREAUCRATS GET AWAY WITH IT!

IF YOU SUPPORT COMPETITIVE BIDDING . . .

VOTE "NO" on PROPOSITION 224!

PROFESSOR PAUL FRATESSA
Former Chair, Seismic Safety Commission
ALLAN ZAREMBERG
President, California Chamber of Commerce
JANE ARMSTRONG
State Chairman, Alliance of California Taxpayers and Involved Voters