RC CitizenView

The initiative process in California is loaded with all the political tricks you can stuff in a full-bloused sleeve.  The two initiatives on the June 3 ballot are prime examples.  The title of Proposition 98 “EMINENT DOMAIN. LIMITS ON GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY” does not mention rent control, or the limitation it could place on many other affordable housing programs.  Rancho Cucamonga housing programs could be eliminated. The promoters of initiatives often fashion a campaign that they know will leave an impression that is most likely to succeed at the ballot box.  This campaign need not accurately represent the motivation or the outcome that passage would yield.  Initiatives related to rent control repeal have been defeated in the past when the proposition was clearly identified.  I am not advocating for or against these propositions, only that they be more transparent. 

The number of petitions in circulation, or pending some form of approval in California is enormous.  See the 2008 Ballot Measure Update here.  The California Initiative process requires at least 700,000 signatures for a constitutional amendment.  You will be seeing many more of the full time paid signature gatherers in front of Trader Joes in the future. 

California has a legislative body, which make you question their effectiveness given the number of statutory initiatives. One argument for this process is that the legislature ignores many issues.  Legislators are focused on being reelected and cater to constituents who help facilitate the process.  Then again, the initiative process just may get them of the hook. They work on their legislative careers and leave the governing roll to the voters and civil servants. 

The next hot issue, critical to life as we know it, will be the “Limit on Marriage” constitutional amendment.  This will protect marriage as we know it, divorce, infidelity, child custody disputes.  Why not share the good life with the gay community, they deserve equal protection or equal suffering in half the cases.

The anti gay marriage initiative statute passed by Initiative was found unconstitutional, because it discriminated on the basis of sexual orientation. This initiative was a statutory initiative and not a constitutional amendment while in California the legislature may not overturn or amend a statute enacted by the initiative process it must be upheld by the California Supreme Court if challenged as unconstitutional. 

The unintended consequences could extend to California turning into a Red state in the presidential election this November. Fundamentalists in their zeal to protect the institution of marriage for the rest of us may help the turn out for John McCain. Or maybe the opposite will happen with the left wing motivated to vote. Do you ever wonder if we as voters are being manipulated by the placement of propositions on the ballot? 

Here is recent poll taken from the Speakers commission on the California initiative process website. Add your vote.

Does the California initiative process need reform?

Click here for everything you wanted to know about the initiative process.