REBOOTING
CALIFORNIA: INITIATIVES, CONVENTIONS AND GOVERNMENT REFORM
News Headlines on California's Initiatives
Last updated: September 17,
2010
The Proposition Song – November 2010 (09/16/2010) Fox & Hounds
" Oh we're having an election,
November two's the day
There are nine state propositions
Come vote and have your say."
Union gives $1
million to overturn state's redistricting law (09/15/2010) Los Angeles Times
"One of the nation's largest union groups has given $1 million to a California ballot measure that seeks to overturn recent changes to the state's redistricting law. The contribution to the Yes on Proposition 27 campaign from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees was filed with the secretary of State's office Tuesday."
Howard Jarvis Was Crazy (09/14/2010) Fox & Hounds
"The passage of Proposition 13 in 1978 changed the political landscape both within California and nationally. Thirty-two years after its passage, candidates for governor still vie to convince voters that they are the strongest supporters of this landmark law. Undoubtedly, this would make Prop 13 author Howard Jarvis very happy."
Ballot Watch: Ban on state using local government funds (09/11/2010) Sacramento Bee
Proposition 22: Should the state be banned from taking or borrowing funds from local government and redevelopment agencies?
Voters Beware – Prop 27 has Big Teeth (09/08/2010) Fox & Hounds
"The backers of Proposition 27 play the Big Bad Wolf in a modern day version of the tale. The politicians behind Prop 27 want to devour the poor voters who think it's a good idea to remove legislators from the obvious self-interest of drawing their own legislative districts."
Prop 25, the On-Time Budget Act Fixes, Doesn't Create, Problems (09/02/2010) Fox & Hounds
"The notion that California could become one of 47 states that has a majority vote budget appears to have opponents in something of a froth. Charges of majority vote taxes and loss of the right of referenda have flown - even in the face of irrefutable evidence to the contrary. "
Opinion: Prop 25, the "On Time Budget Act" Reality Check (09/02/2010) Capitol Weekly
"Opponents of Proposition 25, the On Time Budget Act, appear to be working overtime to assign it magical powers to raise taxes on a majority vote and gut the right to referenda. Well, magical powers are from the realm of fairy tales – and so are opponentsÕ charges."
Schwarzenegger denounces majority budget measure (08/24/2010) Sacramento Bee
"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today denounced Proposition 25, which would lower the legislative vote margin for state budgets from two-thirds to a simple majority, and declared that it's a back-door attempt to make it easier to raise taxes."
Judge rules that Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado can continue fight for open primaries (08/24/2010) Mercury News
"A San Francisco Superior Court Judge ruled this morning that Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado can continue his fight for open primaries.
The lieutenant governor, formerly a state senator representing Santa Cruz County and parts of Santa Clara County, had petitioned the courts to intervene in a lawsuit challenging Proposition 14, the voter-approved measure that advances the top two voter-getters to a general election, not the political parties' top candidates."
Governor nears deadline for November ballot initiative (08/24/2010) Sacramento Bee
"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has demanded that lawmakers put a measure on the ballot to strengthen the state's "rainy-day fund" as part of any budget agreement he signs this year."
Proposition 22 battle heats up at GOP convention (08/21/2010) Sacramento
Bee
"A November proposition to ban the state from borrowing or shifting local funds to balance the state budget sparked heated debate among Republicans attending the party's semi-annual convention in San Diego."
Maldonado, others seek to intervene in lawsuit challenging Proposition 14 (08/19/2010) Sacramento Bee
"Lt. Gov. Maldonado seeks to aid top-two primary bill
Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado and other proponents of Proposition 14 have asked a San Francisco Superior Court judge to let them intervene in a lawsuit challenging implementation of the voter-approved top-two primary system."
Appellate Court Reverses Ruling on Prop 25 (08/10/2010) Fox & Hounds
"The court giveth and the court taketh away.
On Friday, I wrote about a Superior Court decision that removed a phrase from the ballot title of Proposition 25 that said while lowering the two-thirds vote to majority to pass the budget, the measure: "Retains Two-Thirds Vote Requirement for Taxes."
Propostion 25 backers win battle in court (08/10/2010) Los Angeles Times
"Proponents of a measure that would allow lawmakers to pass a budget on a simple-majority vote won a key court battle Monday."
Appeals court: Prop.
25 language can say it retains 2/3 tax vote (08/09/2010) Sacramento Bee
"An appeals court ruled today that ballot pamphlet language for Proposition 25 can say the majority budget vote measure "retains two‐thirds vote requirement (for) taxes.""
Dan Walters: Majority-vote budget Proposition 25 is a mixed bag (08/06/2010) Sacramento Bee
"Conceptually, Proposition 25 could be an incremental step, albeit a very small one, toward improving California's ever-worsening governmental dysfunction. Or not."
Court Decision Casts
More Doubt on Prop 25 (08/06/2010) Fox
& Hounds
"Opponents of Proposition 25 have attacked the assertion by proponents that the initiative would only require a majority vote to pass the budget, while tax increases would still require a two-thirds vote. (Full disclosure: I am on the committee opposed to Prop 25 and signed one of the ballot arguments.)"
Proposition neutrality (08/05/2010) Los Angeles Times Editorial
"The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn. won a legal fight Tuesday against California Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown over the exact wording of an initiative proposal that will appear on the November ballot. The Jarvis victory: One word in the description of Proposition 23 was replaced by a Sacramento judge with three different words, and an "s" was removed to make the word "laws" singular rather than plural."
Key ruling throws out claim that Prop. 25 would protect two-thirds vote on taxes (08/05/2010) Contra Costa Times
"Anti-tax advocates hailed a Sacramento judge's ruling Thursday that could alter how voters view a ballot measure to roll back the Legislature's two-thirds requirement to pass budgets."
Judge: Prop 25 language can't say it retains two-thirds vote (08/05/2010) Sacramento Bee
"A Sacramento Superior Court judge ruled today that ballot language for the majority-vote budget initiative cannot claim the measure retains the two-thirds vote requirement for raising taxes."
2 California propositions could undo budget patch (08/04/2010) Los
Angeles Times
"Either initiative, if approved by voters, could repeal a $1-billion budget fix signed into law earlier this year."
More Attacks on Two-Thirds Vote (08/03/2010) Fox & Hounds [cross-posted to Budget News]
Nearly one month into the new fiscal year that began on July 1, there is growing concern that Democrat leaders will attempt an end-run around the Proposition 13 requirement that tax increases must be approved with a two-thirds vote of the Legislature.
Blown budget
deadlines could cost lawmakers: Prop
25 would have pay forfeited for good (08/01/2010) San Diego Union Tribune
"Despite their chronic failure to do the job, California lawmakers continue to earn about $400 a day in pay and expense money when budget talks drag into overtime.
That may end soon — with a caveat."
Suit over Prop. 14
abolishing party primaries (07/30/2010) San
Francisco Chronicle
"California's voter-approved law abolishing party primary elections was hit with its first lawsuit Thursday, a challenge to provisions that discard write-in votes in runoffs and limit candidates' right to list their party preference on the ballot."
Text: Lawsuit filed to block Proposition 14, top-two primary (07/29/20210) Sacramento Bee
"A coalition of minor party candidates and voters have asked a judge to block the implementation of the top-two primary system approved under Proposition 14."
Prop. 25 opponents challenge ballot language for majority vote (07/29/2010) Sacramento Bee
"Opponents of the majority budget initiative are going to court to challenge the official ballot language drafted for the proposition.
The lawsuit alleges that the ballot label and title and summary prepared by the attorney general for Proposition 25 falsely states that the measure "retains two‐thirds vote requirement (for) taxes.""
Legislative Analyst Says Prop. 26 Increases Budget Deficit
by $1 Billion (07/29/2010) California Progress Report
"If approved by voters in November, Proposition 26 will put a billion dollar dent in the state budget, according to the Legislative AnalystÕs Office (LAO)."
Prop. 25 opponents challenge ballot language for majority vote (07/29/2010) Sacramento Bee
"Opponents of the majority budget initiative are going to court to challenge the official ballot language drafted for the proposition."
California: Lawsuit
challenges legislation implementing open primary (07/29/2010) San Jose Mercury News
"A group of voters filed a lawsuit Thursday challenging the legislation that would implement Proposition 14, the measure for an open primary approved by voters in June."
Coming to California, Designing a Brand New Initiative Process (07/29/2010) Fox & Hounds
"Why would Europeans be coming to California, seeking advice?
Well, a group of European activists and scholars are coming this week to learn as much as they can about our initiative process. Their goal? Learn what to do (and perhaps not to do) as they design a new initiative process of their own."
Initiative & Referendum in the Spotlight at Global Forum in SF (07/27/2010) Fox & Hounds
"A Global Forum on direct democracy will hold its U.S. conference July 30 to August 4 in San Francisco. The conference is free to the public. Nearly 300 participants have signed up so far representing 30 countries and 27 U. S. states."
Dan Walters: Long California budget stalemate could affect Prop. 25 (07/27/2010) Sacramento Bee
"Remember the state budget?
The one that the state constitution says should have been done by June 15 for a fiscal year that began on July 1?"
Get Familiar with the November 2010 Ballot Measures (07/25/2010) California Common Cause
"The Secretary of State is reporting that 10 measures will be on the 2010 Nov Ballot – including Charles Munger's initiative to expand redistricting reform to Congress and an initiative to eliminate the citizen's redistricting commission that Californians fought hard to implement with Proposition 11."
No Deal on Prop 25 (07/19/2010) Fox & Hounds
"In his column this morning, Los Angeles Times columnist George Skelton offers up a deal to resolve the budget crisis. Skelton says the legislature should give Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger the reforms he demands for public pensions and budget in exchange for the governorÕs support for Proposition 25, which would lower the two-thirds vote to majority to pass a budget."
Don't blame Schwarzenegger (07/18/2010) Los Angeles Times
"It's documented and official: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is now as unpopular as Gray Davis was when Californians recalled Davis and crowned Schwarzenegger."
Money gushes in Prop. 23 fight (07/15/2010) Sacramento Bee
"Supporters of California's global warming law have raised more than $2 million so far to defend the landmark legislation in what's shaping up as an expensive November ballot battle."
California Labor Federation lays out positions on propositions (07/15/2010) Sacramento Bee
"The California Labor Federation has announced its positions on propositions slated for the November ballot"
Do 11 and 14 Add Up to 25? (07/14/2010)
Fox & Hounds
"Prop 25, the November ballot initiative to permit budget bills to pass with a majority vote instead of 2/3, also represents something of a referendum on two recent voter-approved measures, Prop 11 and Prop 14. "
Easy ways to memorize
the Nov. 2010 ballot propositions (07/12/2010) Los Angeles Times
"When attempting to memorize ballot propositions for an upcoming election, "fun" isn't necessarily the first word that springs to mind. For most, the words "labor-intensive" are far more applicable. "
What Happened? Signatures and Unemployment Insurance (07/12/2010) Fox & Hounds
"While putting together the program for a free, public international conference on initiative and referendum (it's called the 2010 Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy and you can register here:), I've been hearing dozens of accounts of the strange ballot initiative qualification season that has just been concluded."
Biggest Threat on November Ballot (07/08/2010) Fox
& Hounds
"An initiative sponsored by government worker unions has qualified for the November ballot - and it may well be the most threatening issue facing businesses and taxpayers in 2010.
So what does it do? According to sponsors, Proposition 25, the "On Time Budget Act," merely reduces the legislative vote requirement to pass the state budget from two-thirds to a simple majority, and stops paying legislators if the budget is late."
California Jobs Initiative Will Protect Jobs, Save
Billions of Dollars (07/06/2010) Fox & Hounds
"If you had a choice between paying several thousand dollars a year in higher utility, fuel, food and other costs, and temporarily postponing an ineffective global warming law until the economy improves, it would be a simple decision, right?"
The 'If Both Parties Agree, It Must be Bad' Argument (07/02/2010) Fox
& Hounds
"If you paid any
attention to the debate over Prop 14, the top two primary initiative, you
probably heard the following argument trotted out: if both political parties
agree on something, it must be bad."
November's ballot measures get prop numbers (06/28/2010) Contra
Costa Times
"Secretary of State
Debra Bowen just rolled Ôem out, and here they are –"
Parties weigh longshot challenges to Prop. 14 (06/28/2010) San
Francisco Chronicle
"California's
voter-approved overhaul of its primary elections, replacing party contests with
free-for-alls to winnow the field to two November candidates, will be tested in
the courts before it's due to show up at the ballot box in 2012."
From weed to water, California's fall ballot loaded
with measure (06/25/2010) Sacramento Bee
"Attention California
voters: Are you looking to buy and smoke weed without running afoul of the law?
Wild about water infrastructure? Think it's a good idea to lower the threshold
for passing a budget, but still want to raise the bar for approving fees?"
November ballot initiatives shaping up as
battle for California's future (06/25/2010) Contra Costa
Times
"SACRAMENTO — California's congested November
election came into focus Thursday after a last-minute flurry of measures
qualified for the ballot, setting the stage for a pitched — and pricey
— battle for the future of the state."
November Election gets more interesting (6/25/2010) Capitol
Weekly
"California's November
election, already a money-fueled slugfest, just got even more interesting: Nine
statewide measures, including dueling initiatives that go to the heart of the
state's fiscal and political landscape, have qualified for the ballot."
Supreme Court Rules for Disclosure of Initiative
Signatures (6/25/2010) Los Angeles Times
"In a case triggered in
part by the battle over same-sex marriage in California, the Supreme Court
ruled Thursday that disclosing the names of people who signed initiative
petitions generally did not violate their right to free speech."
Two Important Court Decisions for Signatures and the
Initiative Process (6/25/2010) Fox & Hounds
"Conservatives say they
like judges who follow the law and the original intent behind it. Liberals say
they like judges who understand the world and have empathy. I like judges who
agree with me. In that vein, there were two very agreeable court decisions on
the initiative process in the past week."
Measure to raise vote for approving fees qualifies
for ballot (6/24/2010) Sacramento Bee
"An initiative aimed at
curbing the practice of using fee increases to generate revenue for general
purposes has qualified for the November ballot.
Under the initiative, called
the "Stop Hidden Taxes" measure, new fees and charges, as well as
plans to reallocate tax dollars, would need a two-thirds vote for
approval"
Competing Budget Initiatives Qualify for November
Ballot (6/24/2010) LA Weekly
"Voters
will have a chance to radically change the state's budget process this fall, as
two competing measures have qualified for the ballot."
Majority-vote budget measure qualifies for the ballot (6/24/2010) Sacramento
Bee
"An initiative to lower
the legislative vote threshold for passing a budget from two-thirds to a
majority vote has qualified for the November ballot."
November ballot gets crowded (6/24/2010) Los
Angeles Times
"A slew of initiative
proposals qualified for the November ballot just before today's constitutional
deadline. One measure, an effort to restore the Legislature's ability to draw
congressional districts, has until midnight to qualify and may yet be on the
ballot this fall."
Do We Need Initiative Rules for Counties? (6/22/2010) Fox
& Hounds
"California counties
are crashing on checking and sampling signatures before a Thursday deadline to
qualify initiatives for the November ballot. The procrastination, er... late turn-in
of a half-dozen measures has created uncertainty."
Setting up the November Ballot Means More than
Counting Signatures (6/21/2010) Fox & Hounds
"This is an important
week for sizing up what the November ballot will look like as the Secretary of
State is set to declare by week's end what initiatives have qualified for the
ballot. County registrars are frantically counting signatures on six initiative
measures so see if they qualify for the ballot."
Prop. 14's move to open primaries troubles party
chiefs (6/20/2010) Ventura County Star
"As they prepare to
adjust to an entirely new way of picking candidates for public office,
political party leaders in Ventura County say the system established by the
passage of Proposition 14 on June 8 will have the unintended consequence of
empowering party insiders."
Open Primaries? We've Been Here Before (6/18/2010) California
Watch
"HereÕs a relic from
CaliforniaÕs last experiment with open primaries: It's a flyer produced by
a Republican congressman from Whittier for the 1950 U.S. Senate race, one
of the bitterest political campaigns in California history."
How PG&E Can Apologize (06/16/2010) Fox
& Hounds
"PG&E
owes an apology to virtually everyone in the state - save the broadcasters that
made out on all the advertising it bought - for sponsoring the monstrosity that
was Prop 16."
Term limits measure unlikely to make November
deadline (6/16/2010) Sacramento Bee
"A measure to change
current term limit laws for state legislators looks unlikely to appear on the
November ballot.
Secretary of State Debra
Bowen directed county election officials today to conduct a full verification
of voter signatures on petitions submitted by proponents, a process likely to
extend past the June 24 deadline for qualifying for the November ballot."
Jerry Brown says Prop. 14 could break Sacramento
gridlock (6/16/2010) Sacramento Bee
"California's
Republican and Democratic parties opposed the open primary measure voters
approved last week, but Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown on
Tuesday said Proposition 14 "may hold some promise" to help break
partisan gridlock in Sacramento."
Democrats take aim at PG&E political spending
with new bills (6/14/2010) San Francisco Chronicle
"That $46 million
campaign for Proposition 16 may end up costing more than Pacific Gas &
Electric Co. bargained for.
The utility recently lost an
expensive ballot campaign. The upshot? PG&E left a lot of people angry,
including many of the state's movers and shakers who have been friends with the
giant utlity [sic] in the past."
Voters are trying to make government work (6/14/2010) Los
Angeles Times
"Step by step,
California voters are overhauling a state political system that produces
hyper-partisanship and gridlock in Sacramento.
There's nothing to show for it yet but there will be, starting with the 2012
elections — assuming California government can survive that long."
Proposition California ensure electoral blandness (6/13/2010) Washington
Post
"Under
the current imperfect administration of the Universe, most new ideas are false,
so most ideas for improvements make matters worse. Given California's parlous
condition, making matters worse there requires ingenuity, but voters managed to
do so last Tuesday."
Corporate powers grabs on the California ballot: What
do we learn? (6/12/2010) Los Angeles Times
"We may finally have
discovered a remedy for corporate executives with more greed than brains: Let
them invest corporate funds by the millions in California ballot initiatives,
then vote the things down."
Voter skepticism of big moneyed interests could play
role in fall campaign (6/11/2010) Contra Costa Times
"The big smackdown of big
money in Tuesday's primary might have big implications for the fall.
The same level of skepticism that voters showed in rejecting
lavish, multimillion dollar messages of two corporate-backed ballot measures
could doom campaigns that hope that money alone will buy an election in the fall,
political observers said."
Benefits of soon-to-be open state primaries (6/11/2010) Fresno
Bee
"Now that Proposition
14 has passed, the Democratic and Republican parties are suddenly concerned with
how open primaries will diminish the role of minor parties and allow special
interests to control the California Legislature. What a joke."
The New York Times' California 'Revolution' (06/11/2010) Fox
& Hounds
"One
opinion that unites my family - a family of newspaper people - is that you
can't trust anything you read in the New York Times. My dad writes for the
Washington Post. My mom's an editor at USA Today. My wife is a reporter for the
Wall Street Journal. I was a staffer at the LA Times before joining the think
tank. The NYT is a competitor for all of us."
Dan Morain: Voters get wise to silly corporate power
plays (6/11/2010) Sacramento Bee
"Once again, California
voters delivered a two-edged message, or so it seems.
Republicans nominated two
deep-pocketed former chief executives who had spent heavily on their campaigns
to be their standard bearers for governor and U.S. Senate."
Politicians, analysts question new open primary
system (6/10/2010) Los Angeles Times
"Backers believe Prop.
14, approved by voters Tuesday, will result in more moderate lawmakers in
Sacramento. But others think it could lead to more back-room dealing and a
greater reliance on campaign funds from special interests."
California's Open Primaries May Not Shake State (6/10/2010) Southern
California Public Radio
"Voters in the Golden
State voted to jettison traditional political primaries in a bid to help
moderate candidates. But that goal will remain elusive, experts say."
What the Swiss Get Right and We Get Wrong on
Initiatives (6/10/2010) Fox & Hounds
"A couple weeks back, I
moderated a couple different events comparing the initiative process in
Switzerland (where it originated) and in California. What makes these two
systems different? And why should it matter?"
Calif. Voting Change Could Signal Big Political Shift
(06/09/2010) New York Times
"The time for tinkering
is done. That was the message Californians sent when they voted Tuesday to
radically rejigger elections in the nation's most populous state. Under
Proposition 14, a measure that easily passed, traditional party primaries will
be replaced in 2011 with wide-open elections. The top two vote-getters —
whatever their party, or if they have no party at all — will face off in
the general election."
Will California's 'Top Two' Primary Work? (06/09/2010) New
York Times
"California voters on
Tuesday approved Proposition 14, which replaces traditional partisan primaries
in state and Congressional races. Starting in 2011, candidates for an office
would be on a single ballot, regardless of political affiliation, and the top
two vote-getters (even if from the same party) would advance to the general
election. In recent years, a similar "top two" primary system was
adopted in Washington State."
Court fights possible over open primary (06/09/2010) Capitol
Weekly
"California voters gave
Arnold Schwarznegger something he hasn't had much of lately – a political
victory.
Over the opposition of political pros and despite likely court challenges,
voters approved Proposition 14, which allows voters to choose any candidate in
a primary election regardless of party affiliation. The move sets the stage for
the top two vote-getters to face each other in the general election."
Voters approve Prop. 14 'open primary' (06/08/2010) Capitol
Weekly
"Over the opposition of
political pros, California voters on Tuesday approved Proposition 14, which
allows voters to choose any candidate in a primary election regardless of party
affiliation and sets the stage for the top two vote-getters to face each other
in the general election."
Bowen: Army of lawyers at the ready if Prop 14 passes (06/08/2010) Sacramento
Bee
"Secretary of State
Debra Bowen said today there will be an "army of lawyers" looking at
the constitutionality of Proposition 14 if the measure is approved today."
Sunday Take: CaliforniaÕs Possible Solution to
Partisan Politics (06/06/2010) Washington Post
"California Lt. Gov.
Abel Maldonado (R) minced no words when he talked about changing the polarized
politics that he said are killing his state. "The system we have today is
taking our Golden State to its knees," he said. "It's frankly
embarrassing.""
Props 16 and 17 could pave way for more
company-backed initiatives (06/05/2010)
Los Angeles Times
"If the proposals pushed
by utility PG&E and insurer Mercury succeed, individual corporations could
turn to the ballot box as an easier way to change laws."
Prop 14 Debate: Good Arguments on Both Sides (06/05/2010) Calbuzz
"Calbuzz is of two
minds about Proposition 14 on TuesdayÕs ballot.
On the one hand, we think
anything both major political parties are dead set against must be touching on
something important. And we can see how it would be that if candidates had to
appeal to voters of all stripes — not just Democrats and Republicans
— it's possible that more centrist, moderate, reasonable legislators
might get elected who would be prepared to compromise in Sacramento to get
something done, fercrineoutloud. On the other hand,É"
Voter Initiatives Promise Real Choices in November (06/04/2010) Fox
& Hounds
"For all the
handwringing about the initiative process, this November will certainly confirm
its intent as a balancing mechanism to the California Legislature. From the
left and the right, from business and labor and citizens, measures are being
placed on the ballot that specifically address failure by the Legislature."
Why Open Primaries Is A Vote for the People (06/04/2010) Fox
& Hounds
"The truth is often
only told in politics once a politician has given up all hopes of winning the
White House or stepped away-voluntarily but especially involuntarily-from
public life. Pre-2008 John McCain and then Senate President pro Tem John
Burton were notable exceptions but former San Francisco Mayor and California
Assembly Speaker Willie Brown proved this rule recently during a Pat Brown
Institute awards acceptance speechÉ"
A Prop 15 for Ballot Measures? (06/04/2010) Fox
& Hounds
"Prop 15 opens the door
to public campaign financing by setting up an experiment with the Secretary of
State's office in the next two statewide elections.
That's intriguing, but not
the place where public finance might be most useful. (There haven't been a lot
of secretaries of state buying the office). No, where California needs public
finance most is in ballot measure elections."
Prop 14: The Agent of Change? (06/04/2010) KQED
Capitol Notes
"It seems hard to argue
with the conclusion that the passage of Proposition 14, whether you love it or
hate it, would change -- and likely diminish -- the role of party politics in
California."
In its place, it would
install an electoral system that favors the state's unpredictable independent
voters and... quite possibly... the spending of even more more money on
elections than ever before."
Fight of the Majorities: Simple v. Two-thirds (06/03/2010) Capitol
Weekly
"The interminable,
hyper-partisan battle over California's budget is seeping out from under the
Capitol dome onto the November ballot. Two initiatives, one backed by Democrats
to make it easier to pass a state budget through a simple-majority vote, the
other supported by corporate interests to make it harder to impose fees, are
poised to qualify and face voters."
CA Dem czar Burton, GOP czar Nehring agree on one
thing: They hate Prop 14 (06/01/2010) San Francisco Chronicle
"California's major
party chairs agree on, well, nothing but one thing: They both loathe Prop 14,
which would enable the top two vote-getters from whatever party to advance to a
run-off."
State Weighs Change in Primary Voting (06/01/2010) Wall
Street Journal [subscription needed]
"Californians will vote
next week on a ballot measure that aims to make their politics less fractious
by replacing two-party primary elections with a system backers say can help fix
the state's notorious legislative dysfunction."
California Republicans will shift to
caucus system if open primary initiative passes (05/31/2010) Contra Costa Times
"While publicly denouncing the open primary initiative
on the June 8 ballot as wrongheaded and anti-democratic, the California
Republican Party four months ago quietly adopted a contingency plan."
Senate approves bill to identify signature-gathers in
initiative process (05/28/2010) Los Angeles Times
"When that nice woman
stops you in front of the supermarket and asks you to sign a petition to put a
measure on the ballot, she may not be a believer in the cause. She may just be
a hired mercenary.
With many arguing that the
initiative process in California has been hijacked by wealthy special
interests, state lawmakers acted Friday to put a spotlight on what is really
going on."
Forum- Governing California: The initiative process (05/27/2010) KQED
Forum with Michael Krasny [ audio clip]
"We continue our
special election-year "Governing California" series with a look at
California's initiative process. If you could take back one initiative that
voters have passed -- maybe even one you voted for -- which would it be? We
look back on the history of direct democracy in California, and discuss the
successes and unintended consequences of our robust initiative process."
Proposition 14, the Open Primary: what happens to
ossified Sacrament if California voters get to shop around? (05/27/2010) LA
Weekly
"State Democratic and
Republican leaders were undoubtedly disturbed and annoyed last week, but it had
nothing to do with California's $20 billion budget deficit. Instead, the
politicians faced a different kind of bad news: On Tuesday, June 8, voters of
every ideological stripe — from conservatives to moderates to liberals
– overwhelmingly intend to change the way the political establishment
does its business."
Prop 14 won't destroy third parties (05/26/2010) Los
Angeles Times
"California politics
are enlarged and enlivened by the presence of minor parties. They rarely
succeed in electing a candidate to office, but they broaden political debate
and thus test mainstream assumptions. So when those parties, most notably the
Greens, claim that some new development threatens their existence, it's worth
listening."
California Puts Vote Overhaul on the Ballot (05/26/2010) New
York Times
"In another indication
of how frustrated voters have grown with politics as usual, California —
home of initiative-happy democracy — is considering a radical
overhaul."
Text of Initiative Constitutional Amendment: Changes
Legislative Vote Requirement to Pass a Budget, Approve Spending Bills, or Raise
Taxes from Two-Thirds to a Simple Majority downloaded PDF available from California Attorney GeneralÕs Office
Prop. 14 provides no solution (05/22/2010) Lompoc
Record
"Our government is
broken — and our state is broke! As a result, measures constantly
appear on the ballot offering some permanent "fix" for our
representatives' incompetence. Some say the problem is that our elected
officials are too partisan, too far left or right of the middle to compromise
and get things done."
Opinion: Instant Run-off is an option for political
reform (05/20/2010) Capitol Weekly
"Can political
polarization be fixed with an electoral reform measure? The proponents of
Proposition 14 say that their ballot proposal will do the trick. Eliminating
party labels during the primaries will elect more moderates they say."