OPEN GOVERNMENT — CaliforniaChronicle.com reports that Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries (R-Lake Elsinore), declaring "The time has come for the California Legislature to put an end to back room deals being passed in the dead of night," today introduced ACA 8, which would prohibit the Legislature from taking action on any item that has not been noticed and publicly posted for at least 72 hours.
"Last minute ´gut and amends,´ (being) asked to vote on measures minutes after receiving the bill, you name it; the things that are demanded of us defies all decorum of good government." points out Jeffries, "if the public truly knew how things are run up here they would be outraged. Local governments have to comply with similar posting requirements in the Brown Act, why shouldn´t the Legislature?"
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During the special session to address the current budget crisis, legislators were given bill language for numerous taxing and spending measures by the Assembly Speaker only a few hours before they were asked to cast a vote on them. "How can I be asked to vote on a bill that I haven´t had a chance to read?" asked Jeffries. "And how can my constituents participate and comment on the impacts a bill or tax will have on them and their families if even their elected representatives don´t have copies of the bill to review?"
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During the special session to address the current budget crisis, legislators were given bill language for numerous taxing and spending measures by the Assembly Speaker only a few hours before they were asked to cast a vote on them. "How can I be asked to vote on a bill that I haven´t had a chance to read?" asked Jeffries. "And how can my constituents participate and comment on the impacts a bill or tax will have on them and their families if even their elected representatives don´t have copies of the bill to review?"
