San Francisco Examiner, Merced Sun-Star and Fairfield Daily Republic Endorse Prop. 54

October 24, 2016– The San Francisco Examiner, Merced Sun-Star and Fairfield Daily Republic have endorsed Prop. 54, a statewide initiative on the November 2016 ballot that will rein in the power of special interests and give voters a stronger voice in the State Legislature.

Below are excerpts from the endorsements.

San Francisco Examiner “Examiner Endorsements: Statewide ballot measures”:

“One sign that Proposition 54 is an interesting measure is the Democratic Party is opposing it as a waste of taxpayer money while the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and the Libertarians, typically quick to oppose unneeded government spending, support it.

This Republican-endorsed measure “prohibits Legislature from passing any bill unless it has been in print and published on the internet for at least 72 hours before the vote, except in cases of public emergency.”

This is the kind of transparency and accountability we must demand from government. The intention is to stop the troublesome “gut and amend” practice of revising and adding items into bills right before a vote to conceal its contents from the public. The measure would also require video of all open Legislature sessions be posted online.

Endorsement: Yes on Prop. 54”

Merced Sun-Star “Merced Sun-Star Voter Guide”:

“Prop 54, Legislative transparency. Yes. Would require all legislation to be available to the public for 72 hours before a vote can be taken.”

Fairfield Daily Republic “Propositions galore on statewide ballot”:

“YES. This measure requires that legislation be made available in print 72 hours in advance of a vote. Too often we as citizens hear about important legislation that appears to have “just happened,” either behind closed doors or through a gut-and-amend process that swaps the language from a vetted bill with new language that few if anyone outside the Legislature had time to consider.”

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

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