Fresno Bee
Shoppers at Clovis’ Walmart Supercenter on Herndon Avenue last week had an almost endless array of choices, from groceries to household items to toiletries to clothing. And grassroots democracy could have been on their shopping list if they were interested.
That opportunity awaited at the table set up by Rick and Donna Baker outside the store’s entrance. Shoppers could sign petitions on whether to split California into six states; give law-abiding citizens the right to own, carry, and fire a gun; or reduce some drug and theft felonies to misdemeanors. They could even sign a petition preventing legislators from diverting children’s health care money to the general fund.
Fresno County government’s largest labor union filed a complaint with the state this week over the county’s privatization ballot measure. The complaint submitted to the California Public Employment Relations Board claims the Board of Supervisors did not confer with union leaders before approving the measure for the ballot. According to Service Employees International Union Local 521, the county was required to discuss the matter with the union before moving forward because labor interests are at stake.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has demanded that lawmakers put a measure on the ballot to strengthen the state’s “rainy-day fund” as part of any budget agreement he signs this year. The question is, when? Lawmakers are able to place measures on the Nov. 2 ballot even though they missed election deadlines two months ago. Still, state leaders are approaching logistical deadlines that would make it difficult for counties to add another measure to the ballot, election officials say.
California’s 99-year-old initiative process has earned a B-plus grade in a 2010 scorecard that rates the access voters have across the country for placing measures on the ballot. California was one of three states to receive a B-plus grade from the Citizens in Charge Foundation, which supports the expansion of the initiative and referendum process. Just two states, Ohio and Missouri, scored an A-minus, the highest grade given.