Analyzing the California Mental Health Services Act - Essay Example

County mental health programs help the individual with no or insufficient health care. Proposition 63 found a way to help boost these programs to help the needy with mental illness. The tax used was only the wealthiest individuals that make millions or even billions of dollars. These tax dollars go for prevention and maintenance through therapy and medication. For example, schizophrenics generally are diagnosed in their late twenties to early thirties. Schizophrenia can be inherited from parents. If a county mental health program is already servicing a parent, the child could receive counseling and information. When the symptoms occurred, the adult child could receive treatment through the county, or their insurance. Education and preventive counseling could help a schizophrenic become a productive citizen, instead of a violent criminal on no medication.

Proposition 63 helps the mentally ill. Instead of taxing the rich for more prisons, this measure helps create more taxpayers. Instead of housing, the mentally ill, this measure helps them live productive lives.

Proposition 67, or the California Emergency and Medical Services Funding Telephone Surcharge Initiative Constitutional Amendment Statute, is a percentage tax on all phone calls, landlines, or cellphones, in the State of California. I believe that Proposition 67 is unfair. It taxes all calls to fund 911, EMS, and Emergency Room costs. This tax is levied on all calls, whether made by the rich or poor. Businesses are not exempt from this tax. It also is not required to have an audit like other tax-funded programs.

Not all those that are taxed will receive the services from Proposition 67. Tourists, visitors, and anyone in California will pay this tax. Many of the individuals that are taxed will never use 911, EMS, or Emergency Room services. EMS and Emergency Room visits should be paid for by medical insurance or other state programs like Medicaid or Medicare. If this Proposition would cover only 911 costs, then I might favor Proposition 67.

This tax might be a concern for businesses. Some businesses might not relocate to California due to this tax if it is a phone-based business. Telecommunication businesses might ship business to India instead of California. Other programs that the businesses might generate taxes for would suffer. A friendlier business tax should have been considered.

My biggest concern is the auditing of the program. It is not written in Proposition 67 for mandatory auditing. The people in California do not have to be informed on how the money is divided between the programs listed; 911, EMS, or Emergency Room services. This is the final reason I do not support Proposition 67.