If you like the way the California Legislature ducks problems and refuses to balance the state budget, vote "no" on Proposition 11, the redistricting reform measure on the Nov. 4 ballot. But if you want lawmakers from both major parties to be accountable to voters, vote "yes."
This measure is very simple, even though opponents are trying to make it complicated to confuse voters. It takes the power to draw Assembly and Senate lines from the Legislature and gives it to an independent commission.
Proposition 11 would remove a basic conflict of interest -- the very people who benefit from the line-drawing are allowed to design their own districts. That must change -- unless you think the Legislature is doing a good job. I don't and I'm voting "yes" on Proposition 11.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will be in Fresno today to lead a rally in support of Proposition 11. He will be joined by Mayor Alan Autry and others at the event at the Fresno Fresno County Farm Bureau. It is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m.
UPDATE: Here's a link to today's news conference in Fresno.
Gerrymandering isn't new, but high-tech California has perfected it using computer modeling that can determine election results by figuring out exactly where Democrats and Republicans live. Then they slice up neighborhoods like they're dividing up a pie.
This measure has bipartisan support, as well as backing from several respected good-government groups in the state. Supporters include Common Cause of California, the League of Women Voters, AARP, Democrats such as Leon Panetta and Republicans such as Schwarzenegger.
Opponents of the measure are so dishonest that they claim in campaign material sent to Democrats that it's a power grab by Republicans, but in campaign material sent to Republicans, they say it's a power grab by Democrats. So which is it?
Simple, Proposition 11 is a power grab by the voters, and that makes the politicians -- both Democrats and Republicans -- nervous. But it's the right thing to do. Vote "yes" on Proposition 11.
Yes on prop. 11
Yes on #8
Yes on #4
We should be warming up the oil and collecting feathers to use on the Commie Judges and a lot of the Commie Environmentlist destroying California and The United States Energy which they hate!
Third World status here we come.
What I smell in the air isn`t smoke, but, Rebellion, against the hated UN and the NEW Democrats. Socialism never has worked, and it won`t fly here!
yes on 11. I am tired of our government not doing anything and getting paid. If i didnt do my job I'd be fired.