In November’s election, California voters could potentially weigh in on questions ranging from upholding a plastic bag ban to overturning the death penalty. And millions are being spent to sway opinions.
A measure that would limit how much the state can pay for prescription drugs is generating big spending on both sides. According to campaign finance reports filed this week, opponents, including major pharmaceutical companies, have already contributed nearly $40 million to defeat the measure, most of that coming since October. That’s 10 times more than backers have raised.
Voters will be asked whether they want to uphold a plastic bag ban passed by the Legislature in 2014. Supporters of the measure have raised just over $1 million. Plastic bag manufactures report raising more than $4 million to oppose the ban.
Several measures that have not yet qualified for the ballot are also drawing in large amounts of money.
Supporters of speeding up executions in California, one of two measures that might be on the ballot, have raised over $1 million.