The Issue: The California Business Roundtable, a non-partisan coalition of California business leaders are following suit with most of California’s public organizations and posted it’s positions on the California ballot propositions that will appear on the November ballot.  The most intriguing thing about their stances is that they took a “no position” stance on all propositions that don’t affect business.

The California Business Roundtable is “a non-profit, nonpartisan organization composed of chief executive officers of leading California businesses. Since 1976, the Roundtable has provided essential leadership on high-priority public policy issues.”

Of the 12 propositions on the ballot, The CBRT has taken a “no position” stance on the following:

• Prop 1A – High Speed Train Bond
• Prop 4 – Parental Notification for Abortions
• Prop 6 – Public Safety Bond
• Prop 8 – Gay Marriage Ban
• Prop 9 – Victim’s Rights

These propositons, especially Propositions 1A, 4 and 8 have received considerable attention in the press and the blogs because the issues they address seem to wedge the social conservatives and liberals.  Many organizations from political parties to chambers of commerce to unions have taken positions on these issues despite the fact that those organizations are not affected (directly or indirectly) by them.  The CBRT should be commended for their commitment to their cause, and their restraint in avoiding the issues on which they don’t have a relevent opinion.

Other public organizations (the California Federation of Teachers for example), have chosen to take positions on these so-called social issues.  Despite the mission of the CFT, which involves education advocacy, they have taken stances on most of the propositions, including Props 4 and 8.