Free Republic

In response to a leaked draft opinion showing that the United States Supreme Court has voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and top legislative leaders announced plans to add a constitutional amendment enshrining a right to abortion. "California is proposing an amendment to enshrine the right to choose in our state constitution so that there is no doubt as to the right to abortion in this state," the leaders said in a statement late Monday night. "We know we can’t trust the Supreme Court to protect reproductive rights, so California will build a firewall around this...

Fifteen months ago, it seemed possible that Californians might finally be able to loosen the death grip in which the political establishment held their state. That was when voters narrowly adopted a measure that allows citizen commissioners, rather than the Legislature, to draw legislative district lines every 10 years. Redistricting reform was a victory for those who believe that politicians ought to serve the people rather than the two major parties and their web of political lawyers, campaign consultants, fundraisers and advisors. Last week, the empire struck back. Three times. ... First came the end of the once-promising drive for...

Case No. 8168047 IN THE Supreme Court of the State of California KAREN 1. STRAUSS et al., Petitioners, v. MARK B. HORTON, as State Registrar of Vital Statistics, etc., et al., Respondents; DENNIS HOLLINGSWORTH et al., Interveners. INTERVENERS' OPPOSITION BRIEF KENNETH W. STARR (Bar No. 58382) 24569 Via De Casa Malibu, CA 90265-3205 Telephone: (310) 506-4621 Facsimile: (310) 506-4266 ANDREW P. PUGNO (Bar No. 206587) LAW OFFICES OF ANDREW P. PUGNO 101 Parkshore Dr Ste 100 Folsom, CA 95630-4726 Telephone: (916) 608-3065 Facsimile: (916) 608-3066 Email: andrew@pugnolaw.com Attorneys for Interveners TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF AUTHORITIES iii ISSUES PRESENTED 1...

Wednesday could be a big day in the fight over Proposition 8, a ban on same-sex marriage in California that voters approved Nov. 4. That's when the California Supreme Court could decide whether to review several lawsuits filed by Prop 8 opponents. The groups claim the ballot measure is unconstitutional. The court could also issue a stay on Prop 8 while it decides. That would allow same-sex marriages to resume until a final ruling is made on the lawsuits. Four Bay Area counties are the latest to join the legal fight to try to stop state Proposition 8. The Board...

“The lawsuit filed today by the ACLU and Equality California seeking to invalidate the decision of California voters to enshrine traditional marriage in California’s constitution is frivolous and regrettable. These same groups filed an identical case with the California Supreme Court months ago, which was summarily dismissed. We will vigorously defend the People’s decision to enact Proposition 8. This is the second time that California voters have acted to define marriage as between a man and a woman. It is time that the opponents of traditional marriage respect the voters’ decision. The ACLU/Equality California lawsuit is completely lacking in merit....

The Infrastructure Bonds are going to conference committee next Thursday. Some are asking, "but they never passed an Assembly or Senate Committee". In normal circumstances, bills are introduced, hearings held, legislation debated on the floor of both bodies and then passed. At that point the competing bills go to Conference Committee for compromise and approval. Then back to the legislative floors for an up or down vote, without amendments. Be doing it in this way, only the Conference members will be able to make amendments, leaving over 100 Members, elected by the people of California to represent them, without the...

The Little Hoover Commission published its much-anticipated report on the California Performance Review today. The 38-page document contains a mix of strong support for the concept of government reform and skepticism over the execution of proposed changes. The CPR report, a 2,500-page publication that was initiated by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in February, contains recommendations on how the state can become more efficient, responsive, streamlined, and effective. The final document, released in August after a spate of public hearings, proved controversial as members of the CPR commission recommended the elimination of numerous boards and commissions. Then there was the matter of...

Okay, a little voice told me to put up this thread... Since I heard Sen. McClintock explain this plan twice in two days, during two different radio station interviews, I thought it would be a good idea to synopsis it. (I think is an excellent idea.) As we have all pretty much figured, the way to do something about the passage of the illegal alien driver's license law, which will be signed any moment by our traitorous, corrupt governor, lies in our "ruby slippers," our wonderful referendum process. According to McClintock, the California Republican Assembly (a group which endorsed him,...

Opponents labeled it the "blank check initiative." "When you peel away the window dressing, people realize that this is about whether people want Sacramento politicians to have an easier route to raise taxes," said Al Lundeen, spokesman for Californians Against Higher Taxes, a political action committee organized to fight the initiative.