Proposition 11 - an initiative sponsored by the League of Women Voters of California to help end the gridlock that has paralyzed our state government and finally hold politicians accountable - will appear on the November 2008 General Election ballot. Following are some facts about how Proposition 11 will benefit Californians.
Year after year, gridlock prevents our state lawmakers from effectively addressing our most pressing issues such as the state budget, health care, education, the impending water crisis, and the environment. Contributing to this ongoing problem is the fact that legislators currently draw their district lines to guarantee their re-election and are not accountable to voters. Proposition 11 will change this.
State legislators are allowed to draw their own district boundaries to subvert the system and ensure their re-election. In fact, there is now a 99% re-election rate in California legislative races! Guaranteed re-election is not the best incentive for elected officials to be accountable and responsive to voter needs.
Proposition 11 will change the way legislative districts are drawn – giving voters a real voice and increasing accountability among our elected officials.
Proposition 11 will create a 14-member independent citizens commission to redraw state legislative district lines based on strict non-partisan rules. Unlike the current process, Proposition 11 will ensure that the redistricting process is open and transparent and will respect existing city and county boundaries and communities. It will exclude individuals with obvious conflicts of interest, including elected officials and their staff, from serving on the Commission.
Redistricting occurs in California every 10 years. Maps were last drawn in 2001. To prepare for the 2011 redistricting, we need to put reforms in place now. If we don’t, we risk government gridlock through 2022!
You should support Proposition 11 if you want to help increase accountability among our state lawmakers and help break the policy logjam in Sacramento. Proposition 11 will help ensure your vote counts!
Proposition 11 is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of California, AARP, California Common Cause, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, California Chamber of Commerce, California Forward and the California Business Roundtable and is supported by nearly 1,500 individuals, opinion leaders and organizations including Governor Schwarzenegger, former Democratic State Controller Steve Westly, former Governor Gray Davis, the ACLU of Southern California, Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business – California, the California Black Chamber of Commerce, and local community and business groups throughout the state. And support continues to grow.
You can help by joining our coalition and encouraging others to support Proposition 11.
For more information, please call 916-325-0056.