State Feed: National

D.C. Official Says Proposed Initiative Banning Corporate Donations Advances

AmandaKathryn — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:16:26 -0500

D.C. Attorney General Irvin B. Nathan ruled Thursday that a proposed ballot initiative to ban corporate donations to city candidates can move forward, saying it is a “proper subject” to put before voters.

The legal opinion removes a major hurdle for the initiative’s supporters, who plan to get the 22,000 signatures needed to place the petition on the November ballot, a grueling process that will take hundreds of volunteer hours.

Washington, DC: Initiative Seeks to End Corporate Giving to D.C. Campaigns

AmandaKathryn — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:23:43 -0500

Corporate contributions to city political funds would be banned for the first time if a ballot initiative proposed by a group of District activists succeeds.

Bryan Weaver, a former D.C. Council candidate and advisory neighborhood commissioner in Adams Morgan, said he will file papers Tuesday on behalf of the “D.C. Committee to Restore Public Trust” to begin the initiative process.

2012 Measures Qualified for the Ballot

AmandaKathryn — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:09:02 -0500

So far, 24 states have certified 59 ballot questions for 2012 statewide ballots according to the latest compilation by Ballotpedia.

Voters across the country will have the opportunity to voice their opinion on a variety of subjects like health care, affirmative action, immigration, term limits, education, property taxes, voter IDs and abortion just to name a few.

You can view the comprehensive list of measures that have qualified for statewide ballots so far here.

Puerto Rico Governor Approves Proposed Referendum on Cutting Size of Island Legislature

AmandaKathryn — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:53:40 -0500

Puerto Ricans will vote on whether to shrink the U.S. island territory’s legislature.

Gov. Luis Fortuno has signed legislation setting a referendum on a reform package that would decrease the size of the Senate and House of Representatives by a combined 22 seats.

Fortuno said Monday the plan would save money and make the legislature more efficient.

Ballotpedia's Final Analysis on 2011 Statewide Ballot Measures Released

AmandaKathryn — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:36:18 -0500

Ballotpedia’s final analysis on donations to all 2011 statewide ballot measure campaigns has been released; the donations add up $85 million.

The report reveals some interesting information like the fact that the state with the highest contributions from all campaign sides from all ballot measures was in Ohio. The least amount of contributions was in Arkansas.

You can also find an overview of the contributions from supporters & opponents, a ranking of ballot measures from the most to the least contributions, and the ranking of political topic contributions where “labor” shows the most donations in Ohio on Issue 2.

Check out Ballotpedia’s analysis here.

Paul Jacob is on the Express Train to Freedom

AmandaKathryn — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:24:33 -0500

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. The straightest line in politics is a ballot initiative.

In January, Paul began working for the Liberty Initiative Fund (LIF). For many years, he has endeavored to protect the citizen initiative process (and that work will continue with Citizens in Charge Foundation & Citizens in Charge). But now he’s taking the initiative — the express train to freedom — by helping great folks all across the country place measures for greater freedom and government accountability on the ballot.

Announcing Winter 2012 Internships

AmandaKathryn — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:42:11 -0500

Our partner organization, Citizens in Charge Foundation - a 501(c)3 non-profit organization - is currently accepting applications for 2012 internships. We are looking for undergraduates, grad students and recent grads from all majors as well as law students.

Is E-Voting Ready for 2012?

AmandaKathryn — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:11:31 -0500

Voters in many states will have an easier time casting their ballots in 2012, as elections officials are now allowing some people vote via email or iPad devices. They’re also using technology to help count ballots faster and keep track of ballot boxes.

These new voting technologies will save time and money and perhaps allow more people to take part in the elections process. But some experts worry that security flaws still haven’t been fixed and that federal elections are still decades away from going fully online.

Three Reasons Citizens are in Charge

AmandaKathryn — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:48:26 -0500

Today is my first day as the President & CEO
of Citizens in Charge Foundation and Citizens in Charge - I am already hard at work building on the successes we’ve enjoyed together over the past three years and, with your support, looking forward to making even greater strides as we kick-off 2012.

152,588,520 Americans Thank You!

AmandaKathryn — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:06:23 -0500

152,588,520 are thanking you for supporting the efforts of Citizens in Charge and our partner organization, Citizens in Charge Foundation over the past year. As the only national organizations dedicated to protecting the initiative, referendum and recall rights of all Americans without regard to partisanship or politics, we had a busy year in 2011. The rights of 152,588,520 were defended thanks to the hard work and dedication or our transpartisan coalitions throughout the country.

You can view a list of the state projects that we engaged in last year here but, I’d like to share some of the highlights.

What's Your #1?

Trevor Ford — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:29:17 -0500

There have been many citizen initiatives passed in many different states throughout the years. Some have been fairly mundane and inconsequential, others have been controversial.

In the last 100 years, what do you think has been the most consequential citizen initiated ballot initiative that passed into law? If you can’t come up with just one, what would be the top 5? Let us know what you think in the comments section.

A Little Common Sense

Trevor Ford — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:46:55 -0500

This article from Citizens in Charge President Paul Jacob isn’t necessarily about initiative rights, but it’s a great piece and worth the read:

Gobble Gobble Gobble

Trevor Ford — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 10:39:53 -0500

Citizens in Charge and Citizens in Charge Foundation would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. We hope your day is filled with good food, family, and friends. It is a day to celebrate and remember the rights we have, but let us never forget that our work continues to protect and exand citizen initiative rights around the country.

Oh, and if you’re deep-frying your turkey try not to let this happen…

A Big Thank You

Trevor Ford — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:18:34 -0500

Citizens in Charge and Citizens in Charge Foundation would like to thank our veterans and active duty military personnel. All of what we work for here would not be possible without their service and sacrifice. Thank You.

How Much Should a Judge Be Able to Change?

Trevor Ford — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:02:47 -0500

A judge recently changed the wording on a ballot measure in Philomath, Oregon regarding whether or not the city should put flouride in the drinking water. This is not a nationally covered, and it really only affects those in one city, but it brings ups an interesting topic. How much should a judge be able to alter ballot measure wording? From an article on the wording changes:

Voters Speak

Trevor Ford — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:40:04 -0500

Yesterday in a number of states across the nation, citizens headed to the polls to vote on a variety of issues.

In Mississippi, there were three measures on the state-wide ballot for voters, two of which passed. Initiative 27 which would require an ID at the polls to vote, and Initiative 31 which prevents government from using eminent domain to acquire private property both passed by significant margains. Initiative 26, the personhood amendment defining life as beginning at fertilization was defeated by a smaller but still wide margin.

Taking America's Temperature

Trevor Ford — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:54:37 -0500

Today, two big ballots in two different states should give us an idea of where Americans stand on the political spectrum. In Mississippi, voters will decide when life begins and when a person becomes a person. In Ohio, voters will decide whether or not to keep Governor Kasich’s union reform law.

Common Sense: The Public Square

Paul — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 12:55:27 -0400

Californians’ initiative, referendum and recall process is as hot a topic for debate as ever. That’s apt, for this year marks the process’s 100th anniversary.

On October 10, 1911, Californians went to the polls to enact these democratic checks on government after Governor Hiram Johnson persuaded legislators to put them on the ballot. On October 10, 2011, I’ll be in Sacramento at an event sponsored by Citizens in Charge Foundation to celebrate the centennial.

Final Space Shuttle Flight Ever - Petition

Staff — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 10:56:53 -0400

It may be a stretch to connect petition rights and space travel, but today is the final flight of a space shuttle and liftoff is in about a half hour. If you’re interested in watching live you can do so here.

There is also a petition online to continue space shuttle flights until the next space vehicle is ready. If you’re interested you can sign here.

Is This a Great Country or What?

Staff — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 16:10:28 -0400

America is 235 years old today, and Citizens in Charge President Paul Jacob talks about the 4th of July in today’s Common Sense:

Some 235 years ago we made a clean break from the corrupt Old World of Europe. Fifty-six men risked it all to proclaim in the Declaration of Independence that:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed… .