With the November 8 General Election looming, newspapers statewide have published editorials urging a “yes” vote on California Chamber of Commerce-supported Proposition 54.
Proposition 54 prohibits the Legislature from passing any bill unless published on the Internet for 72 hours before the vote and requires the Legislature to record its proceedings and post them on the Internet.
CalChamber Reasons for Position
Requiring the Legislature to post each bill online, in its final form, for at least 72 hours before voting on it would give the legislators time to review the legislation, hear from their constituents, and be held accountable for the laws they pass. In addition, requiring the Legislature to post online a complete video record of every legislative meeting that is supposed to be open to the public would allow citizens to watch legislative proceedings and keep informed. By ensuring the video records would be kept online, freely available for public viewing, for at least 20 years, the act will provide a valuable resource for the public, the press, and the academic community
The following are excerpts from some of the numerous newspaper editorials up and down the state supporting Proposition 54.
- East Bay Times: 54 helps bring Sacramento transparency “Proposition 54 is a breath of fresh air. It would end the state Legislature’s abhorrent practice of gutting bills at the last moment and replacing them with unrelated legislation that is quickly put up for a vote.” October 26, 2016
- Los Angeles Daily News: Yes on Prop. 54 for legislative transparency “Prop. 54’s common-sense provisions will offer legislators, the media and the general public a greater opportunity to expose and debate the results of deals made behind closed doors.” October 10, 2016
- Los Angeles Times: Proposition 54 is a modest proposal to make lawmaking more transparent “Proposition 54 would make the Legislature a bit more open, accessible and accountable to the public.” September 14, 2016
- Marin Independent Journal: Proposition 54 needed to stem legislative hijinks “Proposition 54 may be the easiest decision on the state ballot.” October 13, 2016
- The Orange County Register: Yes on Proposition 54 “It brings more transparency and accountability to the legislative process, which is particularly important since trust in government has deteriorated to such incredibly low levels.” October 7, 2016
- The Bakersfield Californian: Vote yes on Prop. 54: Open Legislature’s ‘closed doors’ “Californians who are sick of being hoodwinked by secret, last-minute deals between lobbyists and legislators should also support Prop. 54 and vote yes.” September 1, 2016
- The Sacramento Bee: 54 is right call for more transparency at Capitol “We find it hard to object to Proposition 54, which would slow the last-minute surge of bills that get shoved through the Legislature every year, usually with nowhere near enough scrutiny. September 26, 2016
- The San Diego Union Tribune: Here’s why Proposition 54 is easiest yes vote of all “The November ballot will be full of local and state ballot measures that require voters to make difficult choices. That’s not the case here.” August 3, 2016
- San Francisco Chronicle: Yes on state Prop. 54 “The Legislature’s feeble effort this summer to craft an alternative to Prop. 54 made the point abundantly clear: If Californians want greater transparency from their elected officials, then voters need to take action themselves.” September 5, 2016
- The Mercury News (San Jose): Proposition 54 is excellent reform for California Legislature “Who can reasonably object to requiring bills to be printed and published on the internet at least three days before the vote?” September 21 ,2016
- Ventura County Star: 54 deserves yes vote “Opponents of the proposition whine that it would “throw a monkey wrench into the ability of our elected officials to get things done. Let us be the first to throw in the monkey wrench.” September 26, 2016
More Information
For more information on Proposition 54, visit www.yesprop54.org
To view all CalChamber positions on the General Election ballot measures, visit www.calchamber.com/ballot.
