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Legislative Constitutional Amendment. – Recommendation: SUPPORT
Proposition 50 is the only item on the primary election ballot. It is a Constitutional Amendment that permits the Legislature to strengthen its ability to expel or suspend any member with a 2/3 vote. The Proposition also strengthens the Political Reform Act of 1974 with respect to key issues affecting outside influence on legislators’ policies and votes.
Recently three members of the California State Senate found themselves facing criminal inquiry. The Senate had limited ability to suspend or expel them per the existing language in the California State Constitution. Proposition 50 would permit the respective houses to suspend or expel members and also to stop their pay, forbid them from acting in their capacity as a legislator, and from using any of their governmental resources during a suspension as well as an expulsion. Should the member be found innocent of the charges, their respective house would also have the right to reinstate said legislator with a second 2/3 vote.
In addition Proposition 50 bars all honoraria, gifts of a nature that could be considered a conflict of interest, and other inducements that have long come under question as issues of undue influence. It also affirms more strongly the bar on former legislators and officials against lobbying for 12 months following their departure from their official position. The nature of other issues, such as sponsored travel, etc. will be left up to the Legislature, but the Proposition directs them to set clear and unambiguous terms and conditions for such items.
California Church IMPACT has long supported strengthening the Political Reform Act to achieve these standards. While it still leaves some determinations to the legislators themselves, this is a solid step in the right direction toward removing undue influence from our deliberative body making our laws.
You will still be able to send flowers to thank a legislator for good work, but large money interests would be limited to the same. That’s progress.
This measure has one opponent. It has thousands of supporters. CCI recommends you vote YES on Proposition 50.