National
What better way to spend a Friday than printing, folding, stamping and stuffing thousands of pieces of paper for a mass mailing? We here at Citizens in Charge Foundation came out of our offices today and gathered in the conference room for some group bonding — and papercuts.
As you can see in this group action shot, we’re all hard at work folding while Jonathan gently persuades the printer that there is no paper jam (mild language warning).
Here at Citizens in Charge Foundation we are very happy that our recently departed Communications Director Bettina Inclan has started a great new endeavor in California. While we were sad to see her go, she will be doing great work on the West Coast. Check out a few news articles on her new adventure here, here and
I ran across this on the FAILBlog website the other day, and I couldn’t help but laugh at this poor Councilman’s misfortune. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot!
One widely held belief is that every initiative that makes it to the ballot is a citizen-led effort, but that is not the case. More often than not the ballot measure you hear about in the news or the one you are voting on was probably referred by your state legislature. While legislatures in all 50 states can put measures on the ballot in one form or another, only 24 states allow citizens to do the same.
While searching through countless bills across the nation in an attempt to provide an open and accessible voting process, I continually stumble across legislation that begs the question, “What were they thinking?” Most recently Nevada Senate Bill 212, which passed through the Legislature this year and was signed into effect on June 4th. As it turns out, this bill makes a change that has been struck down in federal court twice!
Here at Citizens in Charge Foundation we work on protecting and expanding the ballot initiative process at the state and local level. Former US Senator Mike Gravel has long been a proponent of a National Initiative for Democracy, and he explains his plan in this video courtesy of the Blockbuster Democracy Blog.
(LAKE RIDGE, VA) – Today, Citizens in Charge Foundation, a transpartisan national voter rights group focused on the ballot initiative and referendum process, presented Wall Street Journal columnist John Fund with the August 2009 John Lilburne Award. Mr. Fund is being recognized for standing up for the rights of citizens and defending the initiative process from attacks.
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.
For centuries citizens have petitioned their government in hopes of creating a better representative system. A 17th century political activist John Lilburne pioneered the modern initiative and referendum system. Paul Jacob, President of Citizens In Charge Foundation explain who is John Lilburne and how he changed the world…
Citizens in Charge Foundation President Paul Jacob has some harsh words in the New York Times for new Oregon restrictions on the ballot initiative process:
Many who are frustrated by the stringent requirements of the federal government’s “Cash for Clunkers” program have started an online petition drive to expand the program’s qualifications. Under the program people can receive $4,500 for their old automobile if it meets certain requirements.
John Tillman serves as CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute. A successful entrepreneur, John has built and led organizations in the arenas of political activism, retailing, e-commerce, and internet access.
Grover G. Norquist is the president of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), a coalition of taxpayer groups, individuals and businesses that opposes higher taxes at the federal, state and local levels. ATR is perhaps best known for the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, which asks candidates for federal and state office to commit themselves in writing to oppose tax increases.
Petitions to place the fate of red light cameras and speed cameras in the hands of voters are circulating across the country. This November, photo enforcement bans are likely to be considered in three Ohio and two Texas cities. Every Arizona jurisdiction may have a chance to vote on a statewide ballot initiative in November 2010. So far, the efforts in Ohio are the most advanced. In April, the group Citizens Against Photo Enforcement succeeded in having an automated ticketing ban certified for the ballot in Chillicothe.
For many it seems as though 2008’s historic election season has barely just wrapped up. Not so for ballot initiative proponents who are already looking ahead to the next election. Already there are citizen sponsored initiatives on the ballot in three states: Ohio, Maine, and Washington. Numerous other efforts are going on all over the country to collect signatures in the hopes of qualifying for the ballot.