The California Democratic party recently decided that it will be officially against the California Voters First Initiative that proposes changes to how districts are created in California. The California Democratic Party, ratifying yesterday’s vote by its Resolutions Committee, is now officially on record against it. The CDP’s E-Board defeated it by a 9-1 margin at… Continue Reading
Author Archives: Rose Institute
Florida Redistricting Reform Efforts
An editorial appeared recently in the TCPalm, the paper for the Treasure Coast and Palm Beaches area in Florida, relating to the subject of statewide redistricting reform. Apparently, Common Cause and the League of Woman Voters have joined together to put an amendment to the Florida constitution on the ballot in 2010 (these organizations joined… Continue Reading
Pennsylvania Redistricting Reform
The Pennsylvania Legislature has been battling the last couple of weeks over the first step towards approval of a state constitutional amendment that would put redistricting in the hands of an independent non-partisan body. The legislature has to approve the bill in two different session and and put it towards a statewide popular vote in… Continue Reading
Michigan Ballot Proposal
A ballot proposal in Michigan that would radically reform just about every aspect of the state government (including how districts are drawn) is hoping to gather 380,000 signatures by July 7th. The voter initiative would put redistricting in the hands of a non-partisan panel, as well as make changes to the size of the legislature.… Continue Reading
Pitney on Young Voters
Professor Pitney was referenced in a brief article at KCBS 740 AM’s (Bay Area) website on why Republicans in the California Assembly do not want 16 and 17 year olds to be able to preregister to vote for when they are 18. Pitney said: Republicans oppose the bill since younger people are generally more liberal… Continue Reading
Johnson and Pitney on San Gabriel Valley Transportation
Both Doug Johnson and Professor Pitney were quoted in the Pasadena Star News on the subject of Mike Eng’s (D – El Monte) rise to the chairmanship of the California Assembley Transportation Committee. The article speculates that his rise might mean more transportation funds for San Gabriel Valley projects such as the extension of Interstate… Continue Reading
Pitney on Obama's gains among women
Professor Pitney was quoted in a Catholic Online article on the subject of recent Obama gains against McCain among women. Pitney addresses why he thinks this is true: “In part it’s a bump” because the Illinois senator became the presumptive Democratic nominee, said John Pitney, a professor of American politics at Claremont McKenna College in… Continue Reading
Primary Turnout Crosses 25%
With all but three small counties reporting their remaining uncounted ballot numbers, turnout for last Tuesday’s election is finally clear at 28.8 percent. The counties report 4.1 million ballots counted, with almost 490,000 ballots uncounted. There may be a slight reduction from 27.4 percent due to the differences in timing between the counted and uncounted… Continue Reading
Pitney and Johnson on Local Political Donations
The influence of wealthy donors on local elections is the subject of an article in Sunday’s Whittier Daily News. The article focuses on the growing influence of independent groups because of restrictions on donating directly to campaigns. Pitney said: “The big donors are just as powerful as when they used to donate directly to the… Continue Reading
Pitney on the General Election campaign
The Wall Street Journal had an article on Saturday about quotes and clips from the democratic primary that are being brought up again by the Republican National Committee to use against Obama. Pitney had this to say on the subject: But this year’s campaign will offer a particularly large trove for Republican researchers, given its… Continue Reading