In Florida, Judge James Shelfer removed redistricting-related Amendment 7 from the November ballot. Judge Shelfer ruled that the Republican-controlled state legislature’s proposed Amendment 7’s “failure to inform the public [was] clearly and convincingly an attempt to hide the ball” about the measure’s true aims. The legislature put Amendment 7 on the ballot in response to [...]
A new poll from the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) shows likely voters support California’s June 2010 open primary proposal by a two-to-one margin. Sixty percent of likely voters support the measure, compared to 27 percent who oppose it and 13 percent who are undecided.
Republicans, Democrats, and independent voters all support Proposition 14 by [...]
In June, Californians will vote on Proposition 15, a measure placed on the ballot by the Legislature that would create a test program for public financing of campaigns in the state. If adopted, the program would apply only to campaigns for the office of Secretary of State, but its proponents hope to expand its scope [...]
Rose Institute Fellow Doug Johnson and Senior Fellow Jack Pitney were quoted in a recent Contra Costa Times article analyzing a ballot measure to legalize marijuana in California. Pitney and Johnson agreed that the initiative, which recently qualified for the state’s November ballot, will generate much attention.
Johnson said California’s approval of Proposition 215 legalizing medical [...]
In June 2010, California voters will have the chance to fundamentally alter the state’s primary election system. Currently, California operates under a modified closed primary system. Under this system, political parties nominate candidates for the November General Election through a June Primary Election. The primary is “closed” because voters may select only their own party’s candidates, [...]
The Illinois League of Women Voters, in conjunction with Republican leadership in the state legislature, kicked off a new movement for redistricting reform in Illinois called the “Illinois Fair Map Amendment.” Proposed on February 18, the constitutional amendment will be simultaneously introduced as a bill in the Illinois General Assembly and as a petition for an [...]
30,275 people applied for the 14 slots on the Citizens Redistricting Commission (CRC). As the Rose Institute reported earlier, the application deadline was extended from February 12th to February 16th because of the intense interest. The Citizens Redistricting Commission is entrusted with the task of redrawing California’s Legislative Districts in 2011, and is a result of [...]
On Tuesday Maine voters passed an initiative (Question 5) which according to the Associated Press will rewrite the 1999 medical marijuana law to “expand conditions under which people can be prescribed marijuana” and will allow “dispensaries from which the drug can be prescribed to patients.” The initiative passed with 59% of the vote. Maine is [...]
Inland Empire Outlook is a newsletter analyzing economic and political trends shaping California’s fastest growing region. The Lowe Institute of Political Economy and the Rose Institute of State and Local Government—two prominent research institutes at Claremont McKenna College—have joined forces to provide business and government leaders timely and sophisticated analysis of political and economic developments in this pivotal region.
The survey contains a vast amount of data about fees, taxes, costs, and incentives that affect business in more than 400 communities nationwide. Updated annually, it is a valuable resource for cities, businesses, and developers.