June 18, 2006 by Carmen Balber, Op-Ed Commentary The public called for a crackdown on nonvoting when those going to the polls decided that several serial nonvoters shouldn't hold public office at all. One way to solve the problem is with a simple rule: Politicians should be docked a day's pay for every time they show up but refuse to do their job....read more August 5, 2005 Pasadena Ethics Law is Misdirected by Jamie Court For four years, politicians from Pasadena and Santa Monica fought the Taxpayer Protection Act in court. They lost the battle in April, and this week Pasadena's city council finally moved to implement the law. Only there's a big catch - The City Council voted to have the taxpayers pick up the legal bills for officials who break the law. That's a lot like forcing an adulterer's spouse to wash the sheets. ...read more April 1, 2005 Unfair Competition; Big Business Succeeds in Gutting California's Landmark Consumer Protection Law by Carmen Balber California's Unfair Competition Law was the strongest consumer protection law of its kind in the United States when Proposition 64 drastically scaled it back this past November....read more March 24, 2005 Campaign Finance Reform Hypocrisy by Jamie Court A Sacramento judge issued a preliminary ruling that allows Governor Schwarzenegger to control a group that is raising unlimited funds to push his ballot measures. Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, says Governor Schwarzenegger has turned into a traitor in the war for campaign finance reform....read more March 1, 2005 The governor's mega-bucks bid for a special election by Jamie Court If enough California voters sign one of the petitions for the three ballot initiatives that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger began circulating last week, taxpayers could face what amounts to a poll tax of $70 million for the cost of the extra election the governor is planning this fall. The price of this election is too big and the justification is too little....read more February 14, 2005 A Special Election For Special Interests by Jamie Court Call it off, governor. What's the rush? By forcing this special election, all you're doing is further cementing your reputation as the man who's putting California government up for sale....read more October 21, 2004 by Jamie Court Open up a ballot in the majority of states on November 2nd and you'll find a dizzying array of ballot measures. Florida voters will choose whether to cap attorneys fees and vote on a three strikes measure for doctors who commit malpractice. In Nevada, they'll consider limits on malpractice damages and whether to regulate insurance premiums. Commentator and consumer activist Jamie Court is a veteran of ballot initiative wars....read more February 9, 2004 Consumer Protection Week Or Weak On Consumer Protection? by Jamie Court The public understands consumer protection to be ways in which consumers are protected from loss, injury, or annoyance. It's a common definition and one Schwarzenegger cannot ignore if he wants to be a governor of the people and not just of the business people....read more September 24, 2003 by Jamie Court Courts have strictly limited political reform efforts in the past, including federal campaign finance reforms, because they have targeted the activities of special interest groups who claim free speech and free association rights under the Constitution. Reforming how politicians conduct themselves, by contrast, is a prerogative of the people who elect them....read more August 21, 2001 The Coming Showdown at the Ballot Box by Harvey Rosenfield The Showdown isn't inevitable: sensible lawmakers (or those merely concerned about self-preservation) will vote against any bailout that requires residential and small business ratepayers to pay one more penny to rescue the utilities' executives and shareholders from their irresponsible and reckless conduct. They will also support SB 2X 18, Senate President John Burton's bill to ensure that energy deals are open to public scrutiny and regulatory oversight, as the state constitution requires. But if worst comes to worst -- we're ready. Buckle your seat belts....read more |
