Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/california-voters-go-to-polls-on-budget-propositions Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript In California, voters are weighing in Tuesday on ballot measures related to the state's budget difficulties. Spencer Michels reports. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. JIM LEHRER: And finally tonight, California's huge budget troubles. There is a statewide vote today on a proposal to help solve it.NewsHour correspondent Spencer Michels has our report. SPENCER MICHELS: California's economy is in dire straits. Unemployment is high, as are foreclosures and business failures. And the state budget is $21 billion out of whack, with teacher layoffs, health and welfare cuts, and prisoner releases in the offing.Six initiatives on the ballot are being touted as a partial solution. They could reduce the gap by $6 billion, says Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, R-Calif.: People need to know how this election will affect you and how this will affect your child's school, your roads, the safety of your neighborhoods, and the future of your state. SPENCER MICHELS: Despite their worries over the economy, many Californians are essentially ignoring this election. Their apathy is palpable, as much of the electorate seems to have lost faith and interest in state government and in the governor. CALIFORNIAN MAN: It's just irritating that we're even having to vote for anything like this. CALIFORNIAN MAN: I haven't heard anything about the election and what's going on with it. SPENCER MICHELS: Some of those who did make it to the polls voted their own interests. CALIFORNIAN WOMAN: Well, I'm voting because there is a ballot measure that would take away funding for early childhood education. And early childhood education is very important to me personally.