Rob Reiner’s legacy as childhood development and same-sex marriage advocate

As Hollywood Monday remembered the life and work of filmmaker Rob Reiner, who was found dead with stab wounds Sunday, his legacy as a political advocate and activist was also honored across the state.

Elected officials, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, Rep. Nancy Pelosi and LA Mayor Karen Bass, released a message of condolence, thanking him for his contribution to advancing civil rights.

With the money, influence and connections he built through massive box office hits like “When Harry Met Sally” and “A Few Good Men,” Reiner in the mid-1990s turned his attention to a number of social issues that helped shape California’s policies, including those on early childhood development and same-sex marriage.

Children and Families First Act

Reiner began the “I Am Your Child” campaign, a national early-child development initiative, to raise awareness about the importance of a child’s first five years of life in the mid-90s.

Following collaborations with the Clinton/Gore administration and public campaigns with his famous friends, such as Tom Hanks and Michael J. Fox, his efforts to popularize the message bore fruit in 1998 when his foundation backed Proposition 10, also known as the early childhood cigarette tax initiative. 

Reiner helped pass Prop 10, so the state of California can raise the cigarette tax by 50 cents per pack and use the revenue for early childhood development programs.

First 5 California

The passage of Prop 10 led to the creation of First 5 California, which sets prenatal/early development priorities for families while providing oversight. 

Each county, such as First 5 Los Angeles, has the discretion to decide how to use state funds, which come from cigarette tax.

For instance, following the January wildfires in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena, First 5 LA moved to provide resources to child care providers while the impacted communities tried to rebuild. 

As of 2009, it was estimated Prop 10 provided at least $500 million to the First 5 programs annually.

Opposition to a same-sex marriage ban in California

Less than two decades ago, California voters passed Proposition 8 or the same-sex marriage ban initiative in 2008, allowing the state Constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman. 

Despite the state Supreme Court ruling that same-sex marriage was legal in California earlier in the year, Prop 8 had the effect of reversing the ruling. 

In opposition to Prop 8, Reiner co-founded the American Foundation for Equal Rights, which mobilized legal challenges to Prop 8 and contributed to the restoration of marriage equality in California. 

Push for free preschool by taxing the rich

By the 2000s, Reiner turned his sight on the possibility of a universal preschool program, in line with his advocacy for early childhood development.

He teamed up with the California Teachers’ Association and the state Democratic Party to back Proposition 82, also known as the free half-day public preschool program initiative. 

Reiner and his allies wanted to levy a 1.7% tax on people who make $400,000 annually or more, and use the funds to create a universal public preschool program available to all 4-year-olds across the state. 

However, Prop 82 failed to pass as over 60% of California rejected the proposal.