Secretary of State

Will the Real California Electorate Stand Up to be Counted?

Submitted by Carmen Balber on Thu, 03/10/2016 - 09:56

Conferences usually start out with where we are, before jumping to where we need to go. But at the Future of California Elections Conference in Los Angeles, no one even had to mention the problem. 2014’s record-low voter turnout is all democracy advocates have thought about for the last year and a half.

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Loophole Would Keep Lobbyist Spending In Shadows

Submitted by Carmen Balber on Thu, 01/21/2016 - 12:11
UPDATE, Thursday Jan 21: The Fair Political Practices Commission approved new rules requiring lobbying interests to report tens of millions in shadowy payments to influence the legislature. But the FPPC’s failure to close a loophole could make the rules moot by allowing companies to funnel those funds through a middle-man and continue keeping most of their spending in the dark.
 

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Will California Lawmakers Fix Campaign Financing Flaws?

Submitted by Eddie Barrera on Fri, 12/11/2015 - 12:21
Money is the poisoned milk of politics, but many lawmakers have been unenthusiastic about efforts to transform the way campaign cash is tracked or donated. But 2016 should be the year that they step up and stop money from drowning out the voices of regular voters. 
 

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California Politics Drowning in Money

Submitted by Eddie Barrera on Mon, 10/05/2015 - 11:31
Though the U.S. Supreme Court believes otherwise, the public is disgusted with the money that has swamped our political system and wants a major overhaul. A growing number of Republicans and Democrats alike want more restrictions on wealthy influence peddlers and more disclosure of donors who give to organizations that get involved in elections. 
 

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Lawmakers Confront Badly Needed California Election Reform

Submitted by Eddie Barrera on Tue, 09/01/2015 - 08:54

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Initiative Filing Fee Hike Would Make California Highest in Nation

Submitted by Eddie Barrera on Tue, 06/16/2015 - 02:14

Since the California ballot initiative process is fast becoming a billionaire's club, some lawmakers want to make it even more difficult – for grassroots efforts. If a $2,500 California ballot filing fee hike is passed, it's moving through the Legislature now, it will be larger – by five times – than any other state in the nation. 

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