The California Supreme Court decision to allow an advisory measure on the statewide ballot may appear to promote democracy. However, there is little doubt that the proposed ballot measure is another in a line of maneuvers by the Democratic majority in the legislature to manipulate the ballot.
The court was asked if it was appropriate for the legislature to ask voters advice on whether the legislature should seek a United States constitutional amendment to overturn the Citizens United decision made by the U.S. Supreme Court. Recall that the decision allowed labor unions and corporations to make unlimited political donations. Opponents of the Citizens United decision say it leads to distortion in the political process awash with money.
While there is no denying there is a democratic appeal to allow the people to express their wishes through the ballot, one doesn’t have to peel back too many layers to get a smell of this onion.
As UC Irvine law professor Richard L. Hasen wrote about the advisory measure in a Los Angeles Times op-ed, “What’s probably going on is that the Democratic-dominated Legislature sees an issue that is likely to excite Democratic voters and get them to the polls.”
This is not the first time that the Democratic legislature manipulated the system to favor measures they supported.
Remember, when the tax increase proposal that was ultimately labeled Proposition 30 was headed to the ballot in 2012? At the time, the law required that propositions were placed on the ballot in the order in which they qualified. Governor Brown and his colleagues did not want the measure buried behind other initiatives where voters might not find it. So, with legislative hocus-pocus suddenly Proposition 30 became the first item voters would see when they reached the propositions page in the ballot booklet.
Proposition 30 was actually a miracle proposition in a number of ways. Only two days after submitting the measure to the Attorney General for title and summary that title and summary was returned to proponents so they could rush the signature petitions to the streets. Most initiative have to wait the full required 15 days for title and summary.
Initiatives now are voted on only in November’s General Election. Another change prompted by political expediency. Democrats in the legislature believed that the June primary election didn’t turn out as many sympathetic voters for causes near and dear to their agenda as the November election did. The change was made to assure that all ballot measures appeared in November.
Now headed for the ballot in November are numerous propositions that embrace the majority’s agenda.
Isn’t it nice to have friends in high places?