California Proposition 14 Ballot Wording Decision Expected Today

Sacramento Superior Court Judge Allen Sumner is expected to rule today on the ballot language for Prop 14.

The California School Employees Association has sued the Secretary of State (presumably on behalf of the California State Legislature) to change the ballot wording:

From California Independent Voter Network:

The lawsuit would alter the way the initiative is presented to voters:

The original language approved by the legislature last year:

     Elections. Primaries. Greater Participation in Elections.

     Reforms the primary election process for congressional, statewide and legislative races. Allows all voters to choose any candidate regardless of the candidate’s or voter’s political party preference. Ensures that the two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes will appear on the general election ballot regardless of party preference.

The CSEA’s proposed language:

     Changes primary election process. Changes primary election procedures for congressional, legislative and statewide races. Allows all voters to choose any candidate regardless of the candidate’s or voter’s political party preference. Does not require candidates to disclose their registered political party preference. Eliminates political parties’ rights to be on the general election ballot. Ensures that only the two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes will appear on the general election ballot regardless of their registered political party preference. Does not change primary election for President, party committee officers, and nonpartisan offices.

Keep reading below...

PROP 14

• Leading Independent Attorney Speaks on the Legal Fight over Ballot Wording For Proposition 14 (independentvoting.org)
• Open Primaries in California: The Future of Proposition 14 (Rose Report, Claremont McKenna College)
• Prop 14 Lawsuit: People-1, Politicians-0 (By Jeannine English, President of AARP California and Co-Chair of Californians for an Open Primary, Fox & Hounds Daily)
• EDITORIAL: Mad as hatters in state Capitol (Freso Bee)
• Open-primary ballot measure faces legal challenge (The Associated Press, Mercury News)
• Finally, a California Newspaper Story Mentions that Prop. 14 Would Increase Legal Requirements for Parties to be Recognized (Ballot Access News)
• Christina Tobin, Libertarian for CA Secretary of State, announces schedule and opposes Prop 14 (Independent Political Report blog)
• California’s Prop 14: Power to the People — or to the Party Bosses? (The Moderate Voice)
• Green Party Endorses Only 1 June Ballot Measure; Slams Prop. 14 (News Blaze)
• CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE TRIES TO BACKHAND VOTERS BY SUING THEMSELVES (by Chad Peace, CAIVN)

TEA PARTY - COFFEE PARTY

• The “Coffee Party” Is Brewing For America for March 13 “National Coffee Party Day” (Paul Silver, The Moderate Voice)
• Meet the people who are percolating in the Coffee Party (Jessica Ravitz, CNN)
• Circling the Wagons: The Tea Party Has Liberals on the Run, or Does It? (Politics Daily)
• How tea party politics might play out in Minnesota (by Mark Zdechlik, Minnesota Public Radio)

NEW YORK

• Albany Is At Stake: - Queens Special Election To Define Balance Of Power In State Senate (By DOMENICK RAFTER, Queens Tribune)
• Term Limits, City Law Focus Of Charter Panel (By DOMENICK RAFTER, Queens Tribune)
• Charter panel has two from Queens (BY PETE DAVIS, Queens Courier)