The New Yorker's Hendrik Hertzberg penned a column about the California Republican Party's attempt to siphon off what could be roughly twenty of California's fifty four consistently Democratic electoral votes. Naturally, they are using the initiative process to try and do this.
Two weeks ago, one of the most important Republican lawyers in Sacramento quietly filed a ballot initiative that would end the practice of granting all fifty-five of California's electoral votes to the statewide winner. Instead, it would award two of them to the statewide winner and the rest, one by one, to the winner in each congressional district. Nineteen of the fifty-three districts are represented by Republicans, but Bush carried twenty-two districts in 2004. The bottom line is that the initiative, if passed, would spot the Republican ticket something in the neighborhood of twenty electoral votes-votes that it wouldn't get under the rules prevailing in every other sizable state in the Union.
The Republican lawyers behind this convoluted effort, Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk, were deeply involved in the 2003 recall campaign against Democratic Governor Gray Davis that propelled current Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger into power.
It is no surprise that the law firm created a ficticious front group, Californians for Equal Representation, to do their bidding because they have a history of it.
Dave Johnson reported in his September 15, 2006 The Huffington Post article on new MB&H client Economic Freedom Fund that other Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk's clients include:
California Tribal Business Alliance-"an 'Indian Gaming' organization" whose "mission statement is 'to safeguard and enhance the success of the business enterprises of our tribal government members' ....... and 'will foster business development and coalition building with like minded government and business leaders in California.'" (Also see this.)
"Californians for Paycheck Protection-yet another front group-this one sponsoring a California anti-union ballot initiative (Prop. 75). (Their major funders in 2005 (go see how much) included the Chamber of Commerce and the California Republican Party.)" (Also see this.)
"A different partner at this firm, Thomas Hiltachk, filed the 'Fair Pay Workplace Flexibility Act of 2006'-a stealth attempt to get rid of California's overtime rules."
Two organizations. One address. Zero concern for the average Californian.
Now, just because they filed this initiative does not mean it will make it on the ballot. They have no shot at making the Feb 5th date. They could, if they raised the $1 million+ to pay for signature gatherers have a shot at making it on the June ballot. That will be a very low turnout election. We don't have any major races occurring on that date. Yeah, I know the Migden-Leno race will be big an all, but there is no major mayor's race in LA or SF. No constitutional officers up for election. No Senate race. If they do make it on the ballot, then a relatively small number of Californians could have a big impact on the presidential election.
This type of arcane rule initiative is among the hardest to pass. It is not exactly something that grabs people. There would be a very heavy push back from the Democrats if it looked like this was particularly viable. I would not be surprised to see a competing ballot measure put up to try and confuse votes. It worked wonderfully when big PhRMA put up Prop 78 to defeat Prop 79.
This will need to be something we track and see if it gets any traction.
[UPDATE by Julia] Here is an AP article on the initiative. Arnold says that his is not involved and the CRP says the same. I find that highly unbelievable, especially on the party's end. Notice what Nehring has to say about it.
"We'll take a serious look at it, once it qualifies for the ballot," state Republican Party Chairman Ron Nehring said.
Not if it makes it on the ballot, but when. This could be all a ruse to get Democrats to drop a bunch of cash to defeat it, when those dollars/resources could be used elsewhere.
