California law requires proponents of a statewide initiative to pay $200 to the state to begin the process. After receipt of the fee, the state writes a proposed description of the idea, which is then printed on initiative petitions by the proponents. Assemblymembers Evan Low (D-Campbell) and Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica) have introduced AB 1100. It raises the fee to $8,000.

A better idea might be to require proponents to file a list of perhaps 250 registered voters who would indicate that they represent the group behind the idea. Here is a press release from the co-authors, saying that they introduced the bill because recently an individual filed the “Sodomite Suppression Act”, calling for execution of anyone who engages in same-sex behavior.

The press release refers to California as the “cradle of direct democracy”, but there is no objective basis in history for that claim. South Dakota and Switzerland are the originators of the initiative. Thanks to Dave Kadlecek for this news.

On April 3, the Ninth Circuit upheld a California law that says local initiative sponsors must have their name on the initiative petition. The April 3 decision is from an en banc panel. The original 3-judge panel last year had struck down that law by a 2-1 vote. Chula Vista Citizens for Jobs v Norris, 12-55726. The plaintiff had argued that his privacy was violated by having his name on the petition. Here is the decision. Thanks to How Appealing for the link.

Many Pennsylvania localities, including Philadelphia, hold partisan primaries for local office on May 19. Stephanie Singer, an elected official who wants to run for re-election, has been removed from the Democratic primary ballot because she needs 1,000 valid signatures and so far only has 996. She is hoping for a rehearing in the local court that removed her, because she has found additional signers who want to testify that their signature is valid. See this story. Thanks to Chris Jerdonek for the link.