On August 26, the California State Appeals Court issued a 20-page opinion in Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association v Newsom, C086334. It says that a 2016 law passed by the legislature, authorizing public funding of campaigns by the state or any local government, is invalid. This is because in 1988 the voters passed Proposition 73, which bans public funding of campaigns. Proposition 73 did not put the ban into the state constitution. It was merely a statute. But California generally does not allow the legislature to repeal or amend laws enacted by initiative, unless that original initiative said the legislature could amend it. So, the 2016 law is void.

The issue is complicated because of the numerous changes to the California campaign finance laws. It is likely the state will ask the State Supreme Court to review this decision.

On August 30, the California Assembly Appropriations Committee passed SB 696, the bill to force the American Independent Party to change its name to something that doesn’t have either “independent” or “independence.” All Democrats voted for it; all Republicans voted against it.

The sponsor, Senator Tom Umberg, is amending the bill, but he refused to let American Independent Party leaders (who were present) know what the amendment will be.

The Colorado referendum petition to repeal the National Popular Vote law in Colorado has enough signatures. See this story. It will be on the November 2020 ballot. This will be the first time that voters of any state have voted on the plan.

The Colorado Republican Party contributed some of the money used to pay the petitioners. Thanks to a commenter for the link.