Free Republic

State Sen. Debra Bowen, a candidate for secretary of state, is pushing efforts to reduce the advantage enjoyed by well-heeled special interests in qualifying ballot initiatives. Bowen, a Marina del Rey Democrat who is running against Republican incumbent Bruce McPherson, outlined her concerns Wednesday in a breakfast meeting with The Bee's Capitol Bureau. California's current process is a far cry from Hiram Johnson's vision when he created the initiative as a check on the power of railroads to control the Legislature, Bowen said. "Certainly, he did not have in mind that anybody who had a million dollars could qualify just...