Opponents of California Ballot Initiative Seek Inquiry

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: New York Times

By JENNIFER STEINHAUER
Published: November 21, 2007

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 20 — The chairman of a committee formed to fight a ballot initiative to change how California’s electoral college votes are apportioned has asked the city attorney here to investigate a report that a group collecting signatures for the initiative has offered food to homeless people in exchange for signing the petitions. The Republican-supported initiative would replace California’s winner-take-all system of allocating its 55 electoral college votes with one that allots the votes by Congressional district.

“We respectfully request that the office of the Los Angeles city attorney conduct a comprehensive investigation into this matter,” Thomas F. Steyer, the chairman of the steering committee for the group Californians for Fair Election Reform, wrote to Rocky Delgadillo, the city attorney.

Mr. Steyer’s letter, dated Nov. 19, stems from an article in The Los Angeles Downtown News that detailed reporters’ observations of signature gatherers asking homeless people on the city’s notorious Skid Row for their signatures to help qualify the electoral vote initiative and three others, as well as asking them to fill out voter registration cards. In exchange, the paper reported, homeless people and those in nearby shelters were given Snickers bars, instant noodles and other snack foods....

Supporters of the initiative have been frantically raising money and gathering signatures in order to get it on the June ballot here. The proposal has roused strong opposition from Democrats because it would transform California from a reliably Democratic state in presidential elections and hand the Republican nominee roughly 20 votes from Republican strongholds.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/21/us/21calif.html

[Mz Pip]

1. What a surprise!

Not.

A couple of weeks ago someone posted another thread about how he was approached to sign a 'cancer funding' initiative which he was willing to do. Then he was told he had to sign 4 times. When he looked closely, he discovered the the other two signatures went on this electoral college initiative. Of course they petition collector did not disclose this. Surprise.

He was going to report it to the election officials.

We must maintain constant vigilance. These people are scandalous and have no shame or conscious. Fortunately we have a very forceful and dedicated Secretary of State who will pursue reported illegalities.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[AndyTiedye]

2. They are NOT Scrambling for Money. They Are Being Bankrolled by the Usual Suspects

They WILL get this on the ballot.

We need to start raising money now to defeat the measure in June.

There are no spending limits. It could cost as much as the whole 2004 Presidential campaign.

[DeepModem Mom]

3. I'm a bit of a doomsdayer on this myself, Andy. I agree. nt