California’s government is increasingly impacted by the whim of successful voter initiatives, which have multiplied like amoeba during a half century of public availability. Data provided by the California State Senate suggest there might be as many as 885 proposed... (Continue reading)
Another scrap is brewing in the protracted battle over preferred treatment for minority student applicants to California schools as opposition to Proposition 209 lingers. SanFranciscoChronicle Challenging the 1996 voter ban on affirmative action based on race or gender are 55... (Continue reading)
A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled California’s ban on same-sex marriages unconstitutional Tuesday, saying the ban “lessens the status and human dignity” of gays. The court allowed time for proponents of the ban to... (Continue reading)
A California ballot initiative proposed for next fall would allow nearly one million undocumented immigrants to live and work openly with little or no fear of deportation. The California Opportunity and Prosperity Act would allow qualifying illegal immigrants to get... (Continue reading)
A $1.2 million jump in recent contributions is being reported by a group hoping to repeal California’s death penalty. Taxpayers for Justice plans to gather 504,760 signatures by March from registered voters to qualify the question for the 2012 ballot.... (Continue reading)
A California ballot initiative proposed for next fall would force Diablo Canyon and San Onofre nuclear power plants to immediately shut down causing electric rates to skyrocket, rolling blackouts, and billions of dollars in economic losses each year, according to... (Continue reading)
Tired of opposition to its expansion, Wal-Mart is exploiting California’s initiative system to intimidate elected officials with threats of costly special elections, and to sidestep lawsuits originating with environmental groups. [CaliforniaWatch] Using paid signature gatherers, the Arkansas-based retail giant plans... (Continue reading)
Supporters of this state’s anti-gay marriage prohibition will be allowed to defend the ban in court after the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously in their favor Thursday. A legal challenge to Proposition 8, passed by voters in 2008, was halted... (Continue reading)
With San Luis Obispo County’s five redevelopment agencies slated to lose a combined $4.5 million, local officials are watching as the California Supreme Court this week listens to arguments that the decision by state lawmakers to use redevelopment funds to... (Continue reading)
An attempt to keep secret the identities of California political campaign donors was throttled Thursday by a federal judge. [SacramentoBee] Proponents of Prop 8, a voter-approved initiative to ban same-sex marriages, argued that they were harassed by political opponents, but... (Continue reading)