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To: Carry_Okie
What the heck is a "referendum proof bill"?

As you may already know, when the State Legislature passes a new law that is signed by the Governor, it is implemented on January 1st of the next year. This gives the people of the state of California the opportunity to overturn the law via a Referendum. If the people gather enough signatures on a petition, then the law is held in abeyance until the voters vote on it in the next General Election. If the Referendum is successful, the law never takes effect. If the Referendum is unsuccessful, the law takes effect as soon as the election is certified by the Secretary of State.

The only exception to this is when legislation is enacted on an "Urgent" or "Emergency" basis - this requires that the bill be passed by 2/3rds of the State Assembly and State Senate. In this case, the law takes effect as soon as the Governor signs it. Therefore, it takes effect before the people of the state can issue a Referendum to stop the law. Hence, it's "referendum-proof".

13 posted on 03/09/2004 8:25:06 PM PST by So Cal Rocket (If consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds, John F. Kerry’s mind must be freaking enormous)
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To: So Cal Rocket; calcowgirl
Hence, it's "referendum-proof".

I understood that, however, is it not still possible to use a referendum or initiative statute to repeal the law after the fact? Does the enactment of a law under emergency powers preclude the conduct of a referendum? Such would not be "referendum proof" but referendum "resistant."

It would be one hell of a black eye for the governor. P'raps another recall might make a worthy chaser. T'would also give real meaning to the elections for the Assembly!

22 posted on 03/09/2004 9:04:00 PM PST by Carry_Okie (The environment is too complex and too important to be managed by central planning.)
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