Posted on 07/23/2007 3:05:40 PM PDT by calcowgirl
Supporters of a proposed ballot initiative to alter California's legislative term limits announced Monday that they are submitting about 1.1 million voter signatures - 400,000 more than necessary - to qualify for the Feb. 5 ballot.
Launched by Gale Kaufman and Matthew Dowd, political strategists for Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, respectively, the initiative campaign needs 694,354 valid voter signatures.
Kaufman announced Monday that the initiative petitions are being submitted to elections officials for certification.
"Representing the people of California is honorable work," Núñez said in a written statement. "This initiative with its bipartisan coalition of supporters can bring more stability and greater expertise to our system."
Critics claim the measure expands rather than reduces term limits, however, and that the initiative represents a desperate measure by Núñez and Perata to retain their $133,639-a-year jobs.
The proposed initiative would reduce the total years that California lawmakers may serve, but would allow all existing incumbents - including Núñez and Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata - to remain at least one extra term.
If voters approve the initiative on the Feb. 5 presidential primary ballot, incumbent legislators who are scheduled to be termed out next year - including Núñez and Perata - could file for re-election in time for the June primary for state offices.
The stage for such a re-election scenario was set in March by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who signed legislation to move California's presidential primary up by four months next year - to Feb. 5.
Schwarzenegger has said that he will not support altering legislative term limits, however, unless a separate measure is placed on the ballot that would strip from lawmakers the authority to draw the state's political districts.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
They are collaborating again with another one of those “bi-partisan” initiatives. :-(
These petty tyrants can dream of extending their grubby little empires a bit longer. Ain’t gonna happen, dudes.
Not long ago it was understood that these people were California citizens. Today, approaching 40% of Nunez's people are the consequence of illegal immigration across our southern boarder.
Guess it's of growing importance that Nunez be able to serve another term to represent his Mexican constituents.
What I’d really like to see is a part-time legislature like many other states have. Instead, we have these overpaid jerk wads working year-round cooking up more taxes, spending and regulations. Never happen though.
I’d settle for ousting the socialists and communists. ;-)
Not anymore! You dishonorable bastards don't even live up to your stupid oath of office! You laugh at the constitutional deadline for a budget and even the whole rest of the document. (especially the rest)
Check the history and it's been Democrats that brought us a "full-time legislature" and "Unionized Public Servants!" It was Republicans that brought righteous Term Limits and that was only to get rid of Democrat Willie Brown who was working on becoming "Exaulted ASSembly Speaker For Life!"
I'm no longer certain the term-limits we have are really that useful even from a conservative point of view, trying to limit government!!!
It's just empowered Lobbyists and CONsultants... With too many CONsultants on state salaries!!!
I found it interesting that it mentioned that there was a person in the legislature who if this passes, will end up being able to serve 18 years in office.
That’s not a long time, most members of our legislature, which is part time, have served longer than that. You usually have to serve longer than that to even be considered for a leadership position.
Term limits don't define government power. Government can only be limited by revolution. A corrupted public process will only submit to a force of arms.
“A corrupted public process will only submit to a force of arms.”
Something the founders understood back in 1776.
Sacramento would be a ghost town.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Is this the only term limits signature gathering going on? If it is then I’m pi$$ed. I think I signed this not getting the full story from the guy soliciting signatures.
Can I get my name off of it?
It’s the only one I see on the “In Circulation” list (#1238)
... and no other term limit initiative has been processed (that I can see).
Scroll up or down for the full status of all.
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_j.htm#1238
Misrepresentation by a signature gatherer? It would not be a first time!
Thanks for the info. It’s the only one I see too. Damn it.
Which just goes ta show everyone that with all the taxation and inflation we’re all payin everyday... We also gotta start payin more than a little attention!!!
Well, true! Therefore, and whereas what’cha say is so true, I move we make ‘em strike the “Honorable” part offa all their stupid stationery as it make absolutely NO SENSE!!!
And I think we opposed the last incarnation of this abortion of legitimate "citizen legislation" because no one can find a completely "post-partisan" retired judge, either!!!
Everytime these liberal hon-yocks try to "improve" "citizen legislation" and the "citizen legislation" process of "direct democracy" I get an anxiety attack for my beloved adopted state of CA!!!
There were quite a few reasons to oppose the last ‘redistricting’ gambit.
Here were a few:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1500090/posts?page=29#29
It will all come down to the fine print, I think.
If it’s the same kind of sham, we’ll just have to defeat it again!
Strangely, there seems to be a 'great deal of resistance' (among potential firees) to that concept, even when the law mandating it is already in place. (Massachusetts obviously doesn't have a corner on the 'corruption' market. We have some definite 'contenders' out here on the Left Coast, as the below article, and this thread in general, ably demonstrate.)
From: http://www.ustl.org/
Groups with bills before the Assembly give $1.68 million to fund speaker's bid to adjust term limits. By Nancy Vogel, Times Staff Writer June 4, 2007 SACRAMENTO — The law bars them from donating more than $7,200 directly to Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez (D-Los Angeles). But nothing has prevented teachers, doctors, gambling enterprises, insurers and others from giving much, much more to a cause close to Nuñez's heart. Those interest groups wrote checks for as much as $250,000 to help bankroll a ballot measure that would tweak California's term limits to give Nuñez another six years in the Legislature. Seventeen unions, corporations, utilities and professional associations have donated a combined $1.68 million for a signature-gathering effort to put the measure before voters next February. Read More Editor’s Note: U.S. Term Limits is highlighting this article to bring you yet another example of the blatant corruption among elected officials and special interests that must be stopped. Speaker Fabian Nunez and Senator Don Perata again give us clear illustration as to why they could be named arguably the most corrupt elected officials in America. |
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