Assembly Bill 1248 was pulled from committee consideration and will be re-introduced into the legislature in early 2000.

We urge support of AB 1248, introduced by Assemblywoman Pat Bates  (Republican, 73rd District).   The measure was opposed by key Democrats when initially introduced.

What is AB 1248?

California Assembly Bill 1248 will sunset a special exemption granted to the County of Orange in 1986.  At that time, the county was excused from complying with the 1941 State Revenue Bond Act.  The State Revenue Bond Act requires voter approval of county revenue bonds for airport construction.

Orange County got a special exemption from the state that allowed the financing of John Wayne expansion without voter approval.  The county wants to use that same exemption to raise billions of dollars to build El Toro, without voter approval.  AB 1248 will close Orange County's loophole, and give voters in this county the same authority over bond indebtedness as residents have in other counties.

Who to contact when the bill comes up again.

Send messages to the Chairman, or better yet, to each of these key members of the California Local Government Committee by clicking on their names below:
(D = Democrat, R = Republican)
 

John Longville, Chairman (D)
Tom Torlakson (D)
Helen Thomson (D)
Bruce Thompson (R)
Nell Soto (D)
Ellen Corbett (D)
Howard Kaloogian (R)
 

Use some of the following points in your own message.  Address the recipients as "Assembly member" and be very respectful in choice of wording and tone, in order to win their support.
 

• AB 1248 returns to the taxpayers of Orange County the rights they had until 1986. It’s an issue of fairness.

• The taxpayers deserve local control over bond debt.  The county should not be allowed to issue billions of dollars in debt for airport construction with out full disclosure and approval of the taxpayers.

• The County of Orange staff and politicians are responsible for the largest municipal bankruptcy in the nation.  Lack of oversight created this problem.  We must not let it happen again.

• Bond investments are not guaranteed. If the airport bonds fail, the taxpayers will suffer either by a lower municipal credit rating, or be required to subsidize the airport to make it viable.

• Orange County taxpayers should have the same rights as taxpayers in other counties when it comes to large scale revenue bonds.  Other counties have to go to the voters for approval of bonds for airports.

• Orange County voters only approved the concept of an El Toro airport. During the last five years the county has spent more than $40 million on airport planning.  No final airport plan or description of impacts and financing risks has ever been disclosed.  The taxpayers have a right to revisit the issue when all the facts are on the table.

• The ultimate in local control is letting the people decide. This is too important an issue to leave to the county politicians.

• The State of California should not exempt Orange County taxpayers from their right to review airport revenue bonds.  Hundreds of thousands of  residents want their right to vote on county airport bonds.