Citizens in Charge Foundation News and Blogs

CPAC 2010: Government Gone Wild

TrevorF — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:25:48 -0500

It’s that time of year again….CPAC 2010 has arrived. Citizens in Charge Foundation is a co-sponsor of the conference again this year.

We’ll be at booth #605 in the exhibition hall, so come by and get a tshirt. This year our theme is Government Gone Wild! The best way to protect yourself from out of control government is to support citizen rights, and that means supporting the petition process. With a stronger and more open petition process citizens will be able to keep their government in check with initiatives and referenda.

1st Electronic Signature Could "Reshape American Politics"

Brandon — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:58:09 -0500

California voter Michael Ni’s signature on a statewide petition could “reshape American politics forever.” That is because Ni’s signature, which was delivered on a flash drive to the San Mateo County clerk last week, is the first in history to be recorded and transmitted to elections officials electronically. You can read the whole story here.

Yes, Hawaii Does Need an Initiative Right

Brandon — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:35:55 -0500

Because Hawaiians have no statewide initiative or referendum rights, the Aloha State earned a “D” on our recently released state-by-state report card on initiative and referendum rights. We like to think that the state’s poor performance will prompt action to give the people more of a voice in government by creating an open and accessible initiative process. Unfortunately, at least one talking head in the state doesn’t want the people to have a greater say in their state government.

Seattle Times: "This is spite, codified."

Brandon — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 06:11:30 -0500

“Spite, codified.” That was what Seattle Times columnist Bruce Ramsey recently called six bills in the Washington state legislature that aim to restrict the initiative process. All the bills would severely hamper Washingtonians’ constitutionally guaranteed right to put state laws on the ballot through petitioning. Ramsey says all the bills are sponsored by bitter legislators who want to take a slap at perennial initiative sponsor Tim Eyman.

Those Calling to Restrict Initiative Process Want to Silence Voters

Brandon — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 11:23:41 -0500

After blogging yesterday about some of the petty ways initiative opponents try to block people from excercising their voting rights by throwing out their signatures on a petition, I started thinking about the wider struggle to protect those rights. Special interests and many politicians simply don’t like the initiative process because it threatens their hold on power. The last thing they want is for you, the voter, to have a say in how their government is run.

Reason Foundation Gives More Evidence That Initiatives NOT to Blame for California Budget Woes

Brandon — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:19:26 -0400

As the attacks continue against California’s ballot initiative process, three scholars at the Reason Foundation are injecting some, well, reason into the debate.

Reason Foundation Gives More Evidence That Initiatives NOT to Blame for California Budget Woes

Brandon — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:19:26 -0400

As the attacks continue against California’s ballot initiative process, three scholars at the Reason Foundation are injecting some, well, reason into the debate.

Initiative Process Could Have Moved Alaska's Capitol

TrevorF — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:07:59 -0400

Alaska may be one of the most remote places on earth, and be nowhere near the United States mainland, but it still has the initiative process.

Attacks Continue on California's Initiative & Referendum Process

Paul — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:55:15 -0400

Is the Federal Government Stepping on States' Initiative Rights?

Brandon — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:36:06 -0400

The Obama Justice Department has been slammed for attempting to meddle with a ballot initiative in Oklahoma. Several state lawmakers sent a “stern letter” to Attorney General Eric Holder blasting a letter sent by his office in April.