How Would You Change California’s Referendum Process?

KQED's Forum

KQED

Politics, News, News Commentary

4.6 • 656 Ratings

🗓️ 8 September 2023

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is considering whether to sign a bill that would change some of the language you see on the referendum portion of your 2024 ballot. AB 421 would ask voters whether they want to “keep the law” or “overturn the law” and eliminate “Yes” or “No” choices. It would also require the top three sponsors of a referendum to appear on the Secretary of State’s voter information guide. But the final legislation is far more modest than its original version, which would have strengthened government oversight of signature collection, mandated more robust disclosures about the funders of referendum campaigns and required unpaid volunteers to obtain at least 10% of petition signatures. Those failed proposals, backed by labor groups, were favored by a majority of likely California voters, according to a June poll by the Public Policy Institute of California. We’ll talk about what you’d like to change about our state’s referendum process and check in on the measures that have already qualified for the 2024 ballot. Guests: Kim Alexander, president and founder, California Voter Foundation Guy Marzorati, reporter and producer, KQED's California Politics and Government Desk Mia Bonta, state assemblymember representing the 18th assembly district in the East Bay Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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0:30.2	From KQED.
0:31.2	Thank you, Ed. From KQBD in San Francisco, this is Forum. I'm Mina Kim.
0:51.1	California voters will be presented with at least two industry-backed ballot measures in November that would undo state laws passed by the legislature last year, one that gave fast food workers more say over their pay and working conditions, and another that banned new oil drilling projects near homes and schools.
1:08.0	The referendum, part of California's direct democracy system, is popular
1:12.1	with voters, according to a recent PPC poll, but critics say it's become more of a
1:17.0	tool for corporations to stall and reverse state laws they don't like. An initial
1:22.2	attempt to reform the referendum process now sits on Governor Newsom's desk. We'll
1:26.2	learn more about it after this news.
1:33.2	Welcome to Forum. I'm Mina Kim. A bill on Governor Gavin Newsom's desk, AB 421, would change some of the
1:40.9	standard language for a state referendum on the ballot with the aim of making
1:44.9	it easier and clearer for voters in California to understand. But the final legislation is far
1:51.3	more modest than its original version, which would have mandated more disclosures about the funders
1:56.7	of referendum campaigns and strengthen government oversight of signature collection.
2:02.2	This hour will learn more about the bill. Check in on the measures that have already qualified
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