FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Christina Tobin
StopTopTwo.Org Chair
(415) 599-5222
christina@freeandequal.org
National Leaders from the Constitution, Green, Libertarian, Peace & Freedom, and Progressive Parties Release Statement Opposing California’s Proposition 14
Proposition 14, also known as the Top Two Primaries Act, is a dangerous “electoral reform” measure slated for the California ballot Tuesday, June 8. The measure eliminates party primaries, enables candidates to mask their party affiliation from voters, and only the top two vote getters advance to the general election, limiting voter choice. Under Prop 14, voters could be forced to choose between two republicans or two democrats in the general election or not vote at all. Smaller parties and independents would not stand a chance.
Big business and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Dream Team have thrown over $4.8 million towards this measure. The California Secretary of State Campaign Finance web page contains a list of all the contributors who support the measure, with amounts: http://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/Campaign/Committees/Detail.aspx?id=1322507&session=2009&view=late1. Most of CA’s corporate-owned newspapers have endorsed the measure.
If this ballot measure passes, the frightening unintended consequences will be other states following California’s tyrannical example. This is not the kind of electoral “reform” we want spreading throughout our country. It limits voter choice and gives more control to corporations.
Prop 14 Facts:
- Prop 14 is the by-product of a vote-buying backroom deal between Gov. Schwarzenegger and Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado
- Prop 14 does not work as promised in the two states with similar systems, Washington and Louisiana
- Prop 14 was placed on the ballot by circumventing the normal legislative process, without public discussion
- Prop 14 protects incumbents and guarantees the continuation of status quo politics in states with this type of primary
- Prop 14 reduces voter rights and has reduced voter turnout in states with similar systems
- Prop 14 is largely supported by the California Chamber of Commerce ($720,000 contributed to date), Hewlett Packard ($100,000), insurance companies (Blue Cross), financial companies, wealthy business leaders (Netflix CEO Reed Hastings contributed over $250,000), and political action committees: http://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/Campaign/Committees/Detail.aspx?id=1322507&session=2009&view=late1
- Prop 14 has received $2 million in support from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Dream Team
- Prop 14 contains deceptive language, stating the measure will increase rights in the primary election, yet it will limit voters’ choices to only two in the general election
- Prop 14 operates to favor big money, celebrity or major party insiders
- Prop 14 discriminates against minor party and independent candidates and will prevent them from advancing to the general election
- Prop 14 will make campaigns much more costly
- Prop 14 bans the counting of write-in candidates from the November ballot
We urge Californians to vote no on Prop 14.
James N. Clymer, Esq.
National Chairman, Constitution Party National Committee
(717) 299-7101
jim@cmbclaw.com
Gary Odom
National Field Director, Constitution Party
(717) 808 2138
grodom@gmail.com
Mike Feinstein
Former Mayor of Santa Monica
Co-founder and Co-Chair, Green Party
(310) 392 8450
mfeinstein@feinstein.org
Mark Hinkle
Chair, Libertarian National Committee
(408) 779-7922
chair@lp.org
Kevin Akin
California State Chair and National Organizing Committee member, Peace and Freedom Party
(951) 787 0318
kevinakin1950@hotmail.com
George H. Strauss
Chair, American Progressives United
(212) 873 0989
GeorgeHStrauss@aol.com
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