Citizens in Charge

The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday ruled 8-1 that petition signers do not have a privacy right to prevent public disclosure of their personal information on a petition. Citizens in Charge Foundation filed an amicus brief in the case, Doe v. Reed, arguing in favor of a privacy right for petition signers.

The names and addresses of those who sign ballot-measure petitions, such as Referendum 71, can be made public, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled today in a decision that upholds the constitutionality of Washington state’s Public Records Act. But that doesn’t mean copies of the Ref. 71 petitions will be immediately available. A lower court will now take up the question of whether those petitions can be disclosed at all, since those who want to keep petition signers’ names secret plan to pursue an exemption from disclosure in their case only.

The U.S. Supreme Court issued their decision on the Doe v Reed case out of Washington State earlier today. The Court ruled 8-1 in favor of Reed, which means it ruled in favor of public disclosure of petition signers. Chief Justice Roberts wrote the majority opinion, with Justice Thomas writing the lone dissent. To read a pdf of the decision click here.

Some folks are upset that a bust of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin was put up at the National D-Day Memorial and have started up a petition to have it removed. This is not a petition signature drive to place a measure on the ballot. The National D-Day Memorial is located in Virginia, a state which has no state-wide initiative process.

To check out the petition click here.

Pick an issue you’re passionate about, it could any issue really…and now imagine that issue is going nowhere. It is stuck in a state legislature, a city council, or even Congress. You and thousands like you are still passionate about it, and you want to see movement on that issue….you want it resolved.

Today is your last day to book a discount rate hotel room for the U.S Conference on Initiative & Referendum in San Francisco this July.

If you’re planning on attending hurry up and book your room so you don’t miss out on this great deal!

Today marks the beginning of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, with South Africa taking on Mexico this morning in the Cup’s opening match. The match resulted in a 1-1 draw, but was still pretty entertaining to watch.

In honor of the start of the World Cup I direct your attention to the petition to bring the Cup back to the United States. The U.S. is in the bidding process for the 2018 or 2022 Cup, and it would be great to bring it back. So go use your citizen petition power and sign it!

In ALEC’s latest “Rich States, Poor States” report there is a ranking of states by “economic outlook,” a compilation of 15 policy variables, and by past economic performance (from 1998 to 2008).

This is an interesting and great story in the Native American Times. The tribe’s Supreme Court ruled that an initiative led and passed by the people to reduce the size of their council and give a line-item veto to the president was valid and legal:

In order to get a measure onto the ballot, supporters of a petition effort must get voters to sign their petition, the key to which is often getting access to where voters are. Those in initiative states are likely used to seeing people collecting signatures are fairs and festivals, as well as in front of various stores and businesses: places where lots of people are. One place where a lot of voters usually go is their local pose office, so the nations 32,471 post offices would seem like a natural place for voters to be engaged.

Some of you might already have seen the video, but if you haven’t yet check it out, and join us in San Francisco in July to learn about how you can become a citizen in charge.

Tired of politicians who don’t listen to you? Take charge with citizen initiative rights. Join us in San Francisco July 30 - August 4 to learn more. Register to attend for FREE by June 7th: www.USConferenceOnIandR.com

Citizens in Charge Foundation, The New America Foundation, The Swiss Confederation and The American Consortium on EU Studies Center of Excellence

Invite you to a Roundtable Discussion

The Rise of Transnational Direct Democracy:
The European Citizen’s Initiative and
What It Means for the World

WHEN:  Monday May 24, 2010
TIME: 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Check out our new video and learn how you can take charge this summer in San Francisco.

Of the 45 states whose legislatures hold sessions in 2010, 27 of them have adjourned for the year, and 5 more will wrap up before the end of the month. Of the more than 80 bills dealing with the initiative and referendum process in various states, 51 of them would have reduced citizens’ initiative rights. Thanks to the work of activists in our coalitions, only 3 bills reducing citizen’s rights have passed and become law.