Mercury News and East Bay Times Urge a Yes Vote on Prop 54

July 26, 2016 — The East Bay Times and Mercury News today urged readers to vote yes on Prop. 54, an initiative on the November ballot that will give voters a stronger voice in the State Legislature and reduce the power of special interests.

Prop. 54 is supported by a growing, bipartisan coalition that includes the League of Women Voters of California, California Chamber of Commerce, California State Conference of the NAACP, League of California Cities, California Common Cause, Californians Aware, First Amendment Coalition, California Forward, California Planning and Conservation League, California Black Chamber of Commerce, California Business Roundtable, National Federation of Independent Business/ California, La Raza Roundtable de California, Latin Business Association of California, Hispanic 100, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, California Taxpayers Association, Small Business Action Committee, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, Fresno Chamber of Commerce, San Jose/Silicon Valley NAACP, Monterey County Business Council, Valley Contractors Exchange, The R Street Institute, and the California Business Properties Association.

Below are excerpts from the editorial, “Proposition 54 is excellent reform for California Legislature”:

“Proposition 54 is a breath of fresh air.

It would end the state Legislature’s unethical practice of removing the text of bills at the last moment and replacing it with unrelated legislation that is quickly put up for a vote — with no chance for the public or affected parties to vet it.

The proposition also would ensure that proceedings of both houses of the Legislature and their committee hearings be video recorded and posted on the internet.

It’s long-overdue transparency. It’s hard to imagine why anyone would oppose it.

…

Backers include California Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, California NAACP, California Chamber of Commerce, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and two leading open-government groups, the First Amendment Coalition and Californians Aware.

It’s not surprising. Who can reasonably object to requiring bills to be printed and published on the internet at least three days before the vote? Who can object to making videotapes of legislative proceedings available online?

…we welcome Prop. 54. For both rich and poor, transparency rules are in the public interest. Vote yes.”

Read the entire article on the Mercury News website: http://tinyurl.com/jewvks3.

To learn more about Proposition 54 or to join the coalition, visit the website atwww.YesProp54.org.