Democrats, Republicans and Independents agree it’s time to PUT VOTERS FIRST, NOT SPECIAL INTERESTS.
THAT’S WHY DIVERSE GROUPS LIKE the League of Women Voters of California, California Chamber of Commerce, California State Conference of the NAACP, Latin Business Association, California Common Cause, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, League of California Cities, California Forward, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, California Planning and Conservation League, and many others, URGE YOU TO VOTE “YES” ON PROP. 54.
PROP. 54 WILL:
- Require every bill to be posted online and distributed to lawmakers at least 72 hours before each house of the Legislature is permitted to vote on it (except when the Governor declares an emergency).
- Prohibit any bill passed in violation of this 72-hour requirement from becoming law.
- Make audiovisual recordings of ALL public legislative meetings.
- Post those recordings online within 24 hours, to remain online for at least 20 years.
- Guarantee the right of every person to also record and broadcast any open legislative meetings.
- Require NO new taxpayer money.
The Legislature’s existing budget will cover this measure’s minor costs.
Proposition 54 makes our state government more transparent by STOPPING THE PRACTICE OF WRITING LAWS PROMOTED BY SPECIAL INTERESTS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND PASSING THEM WITH LITTLE DEBATE OR REVIEW.
“We have long opposed the California Legislature’s practice of making last minute changes to proposed laws before legislators, the press, and the public have had a chance to read and understand them. Such practices make a mockery of democracy.”—Peter Scheer, FIRST AMENDMENT COALITION
“Proposition 54 gives all people the opportunity to review, debate, and contribute to the laws that impact us all.”—Alice Huffman, CALIFORNIA STATE CONFERENCE OF THE NAACP Proposition 54 will stop the immediate passage of legislation that has been “gutted and amended”—a practice that replaces, at the last minute, every word of a bill with new, complex language secretly written by special interests, thereby making major policy changes with no public input.
“Proposition 54 finally gives voters the upper hand, not the special interests, and improves the way business is done at our State Capitol.”—Ruben Guerra, LATIN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
Special interests and the political establishment fear voters might track from home what happens in the Legislature’s public meetings. Sacramento lobbyists don’t believe the people can be trusted with this information—or with time to act on it.
Yet sixty-nine California cities representing 15 million people, and thirty-seven county boards of supervisors representing 27 million people, already post recordings of their meetings online.
Our Legislature should catch up.
“Proposition 54 will create a more open, honest, and accountable government. It’s time to give voters a voice in the political process.”—Kathay Feng, CALIFORNIA COMMON CAUSE
CHECK IT OUT FOR YOURSELF at YesProp54.org. YES ON PROP. 54 is supported by good government, minority, taxpayer, and small business groups, seniors, and voters from every walk of life, every political persuasion, and every corner of the state.
PROPOSITION 54 was written by constitutional scholars and has been carefully reviewed and vetted by good government organizations who all agree Prop. 54 will increase transparency. That’s why special interests vigorously oppose it.
PROPOSITION 54 will reduce special interest influence by ensuring every proposed new law is subject to public review and comment BEFORE legislators vote on it. Vote YES on Proposition 54.
HELEN HUTCHISON, President
League of Women Voters of California
HOWARD PENN, Executive Director
California Planning and Conservation League
ALLAN ZAREMBERG, President
California Chamber of Commerce