Posted on 08/26/2011 5:19:42 PM PDT by Steelfish
Democrats Propose Measures To Rein In California Initiative Process Some say the bevy of voter-mandated programs leaves lawmakers hamstrung and that the process is subject to abuse by special interests. Critics say the proposed changes would 'neuter direct democracy.' California is the only state that doesn't allow its Legislature to amend or repeal statutes created by voters.
By Michael J. Mishak, August 26, 2011 Reporting from Sacramento— Democrats in the Legislature are trying to make it harder for Californians to pass their own laws at the ballot box, saying the state's century-old initiative process has been hijacked by the special interests it was created to fight and has perpetuated Sacramento's financial woes.
In the waning weeks of this year's lawmaking session, legislators will push bills to raise filing fees, place new restrictions on signature gatherers and compel greater public disclosure of campaign contributors.
One measure would allow the Legislature to propose changes that would appear on the ballot alongside an initiative even if its sponsor rejected them. Another would give the Legislature the right to amend or repeal initiatives that pass, after four years have gone by.
Such changes would severely weaken what little leverage Republicans and their allies still have in California after last year's election, which solidified Democratic control of the Capitol.
But Democrats say their efforts have nothing to do with politics and everything to do with moderating "direct democracy" gone wild.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
I don’t believe this for a second. DemocRATS love the ballot initiatives. It gets rid of the republic and turns the country into a “direct democracy”. (Mob rule). The people pay politicians to do a job. MAKE THEM DO IT! Let’s go back to being a republic again.
They didn’t seem to mind until the people didn’t vote the way they wanted.
Now they want to get rid of it.
Things that make you go........
Democrats only hate direct democracy when it’s opposed to their agenda.
Plain and simple.
This is trying to make it so Prop 8 type initiatives or Constitutional changes can’t be made directly by the people.
They don’t want to waste time in the liberal courts. Perhaps they are embarrassed at how far the liberal courts have to invent ways to thwart the people’s will.
there’s nothing democratic about the democrat party.
I don’t think that they can get away with trying to change the initiative process without having it go to vote before the people.
Not really. They can pass legislation to restrict it and have Gov. Brown sign onto it.
California is just too big. Cut it in half.
Labor groups have been blasting the radio waves with an ad claiming that signing a petition can result in your identity being stolen.
I’ve got mixed feelings about this, sure you some times get a good initiative that people will vote for but for the most part voters here are as liberal as they are dumb and vote for some of the stupidest things you can imagine that then can’t be undone except by another vote. It’s a liberal hell hole here and for the most part that’s the way the majority of the voters want it. They have gotten the government that they deserve, I just wish I wasn’t part of it but with any luck I’ll be on my way out of here.
And they've got the mob to do the ruling. I think they're worried that voter "frogs" might start jumping out of the hot pot in opposition when they launch their high-powered campaign to repeal Prop 13. Their redistricting commission has handed them what looks like a 2/3 majority in the Legislature so they can now pass anything they want over Republican opposition. They figure it's time for a checkmate move.
Barry’s 2010 “census” was one things nobody ever complains about but it has already done a lot of damage to the country and it is only the beginning.
You are right...this has to do with prop 13.
The only one to stick so far is Prop 2½ - MA property taxpayers version of Kali's inspirational Prop 13.
Most of the people I talk to are clueless when it comes to ballot propositions. Many tell me, “I just vote NO on all of them”. Because the DemocRATS know that, they word their propositions in such a way that a “NO” gives them what they want. On many propositions here, “NO” means “YES”.
Many tell me, “I just vote NO on all of them”.
Not good to do that as many initiatives are made with tricky and ambiguous wording. They might consider looking at the supporters & originators who are behind the effort and vote the opposite way. It’s better that we all read and understand and then vote but for those who don’t want to or can’t spend the time learning that would work better than simply voting NO
If you don’t have time to read the whole initiative at least scan the pros and cons synopses.
That’s exactly what I do. If I don’t understand the proposition, I look at who supports and who opposes it.
Its that damned, “We the People” idea again. Gotta stop it before someone believes it. Kalifornia..please secede...please.
F--- Ralph Nader, and the horse he rode in on..., since the one I
specifically remember had to do with PIRG continuing to get
funding via a negative checkoff on the state college tuition bill.
I had to put up with that same practice at the state school I went to,
and if a business, er, commercial business did that, they'd be
prosecuted.
The Public Unions are running radio spots here in Los Angeles, trying to scare people into not signing petitions. They are trying to make people think they are identity theft scams. Of course, the Unions have no trouble getting their petitions circulated by goons, or simply having their pet legislators rubber stamp things for them.
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