A New Study Examines the Effect of Ballot Placement

Ballot order affects candidate success, a recently released study of 7,846 California city council, community college and school district elections shows.

“In between four and five percent of the elections we examined, the candidate listed first won office as a result of her or his ballot position,” report Marc Meredith and Yuval Salant in their 41-page study, On the Causes and Consequences of Ballot Order Effects.

In one out of 10 elections, candidates listed first win owe their victory to ballot placement, the study concludes.

Meredith and Salant say the-first-on-the-ballot effect is “similar in city council and in school board elections, in [....]

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The Place of “Morality” in Public Policy

Morality can’t be legislated, the timeworn saying goes.

Two initiatives in circulation appear to attempt to do that — without defining what constitutes “moral.”

Like “reform,” morality tends to be in the eye of the beholder.

The two initiatives, which require 504,670 valid signatures before June 11 to qualify for the November ballot, use the word “moral” a total of eight times. Yet offer no definition.

One measure would allow public school students to be “excused” from listening to any part of “health, social science and family life” classes in which the topic conflicts with the “religious training and beliefs” as [....]

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Couldn’t Resist: Gov. Brown Issues Short Statement on Think Long Committee’s Decision

SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. released the following statement in response to the Think Long Committee’s decision today to place a long-term tax reform measure on the 2014 ballot: 

“Think Long is doing very important work and I look forward to working with them on the critical issue of more permanent tax reform.”

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A Bustling Month for Initiatives

November has been a banner month for direct democracy in California – Just ask the offices of the Attorney General and the Secretary of State.

Through November 29th, 26 proposed initiatives have been submitted to the Attorney General for title and summary. Some of the submissions are duplicates or revised versions of the same proposal.

The “Insurance Rate Public Justification and Accountability Act” Versions 1 and 2, for example, submitted on November 9 and November 17, respectively.

Seven new initiatives were cleared to begin signature gathering. Five of them need at least 504,760 signatures by mid April. Two amend the state constitution, which requires 807,615 valid signatures.

On [....]

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“I Believe in America” — Please Send Money

Dear Friend,

The problem with President Obama and the liberals in Washington is they believe in the GOVERNMENT.

Their answer to every problem facing America is more government, more spending, more borrowing and more taxes.

I recently took the first step in a run for the White House by establishing a presidential exploratory committee. Let me tell you why I have taken this step.

I believe in America.

I believe in America and the greatenss of its people and I wholeheartedly believe our best days are ahead of us….

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Two Initiatives Cleared for Signature Gathering

The following two intiatives have been cleared for signature gathering. The first one, relating to the budget and  fiscal measures, amends the constitution and so requires 807,615 valid signatures. Proponents have until October 21. The second, relating to nuclear energy, is a proposed statutory change and so needs only 504,760 signatures. Its backers have until October 20.

The official summary prepared by the Attorney General  and fiscal impact are below:

Any statute, state budget, or legislative constitutional change that decreases state revenues or increases state program or agency costs by $25 million or more in a fiscal year must include offsetting revenues or spending cuts. [....]

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Dude, Like the Bouquet on That Santa Cruz Skunkweed is Totally Piquant

This measure, sponsored by the Regulate Marijuana Like Wine Committee, is awaiting title and summary from the state Attorney General prior to signature-gathering to qualify it for the ballot. Emphasis has been added to Section 1, 4 (B) and (C):

The People of the State of California do enact as follows:

The Regulate Marijuana Like Wine Act of 2012

SECTION 1.  Findings, Declarations, Purpose, Directives, and Orders

New Section 11362.95 is added to the Health and Safety Code:

11362.95. This section shall be known as and may be cited as the “Regulate Marijuana Like Wine Act of 2012,” known hereinafter as the “Act.”

(a) The People [....]

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Secretary of State: This Initiative Didn’t Make the Ballot Cut

Makes It a Crime for Undocumented Persons to Seek Work While Concealing Their Immigration Status and Also Makes It a Crime for Any Employer to Hire an Undocumented Person Intentionally or Negligently.

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“State of Emergency” for Schools Starts May 9 (Click Here for Full Text)

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There Are Other Options Than Just Democrat, Republican and Decline-to-State

Among the 16 political parties vying for a spot on the 2012 ballot is the  “We Like Women” Party.” What candidate, male or female, could possibly find themselves opposed to the party’s central tenet? Indeed, as the website says: “We Are Proud to Like Women! And if they do not like women, they are the enemy!” (Who “they” are isn’t specified.)

Little has changed in the party’s platform since the March 10, 2010 exclusive by California’s Capitol. The party’s founder, Mahgum Eric Thorsen, continues to offer his insights through YouTube videos and continues to do anything necessary to get millions [....]

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