Court Rules Ballot Measure Maneuver Unconstitutional
On Friday, California's 3rd District Court of Appeals ruled that the Legislature acted unconstitutionally in approving a bill (AB 1499) that grants ballot order priority to signature-based constitutional amendment proposals like Proposition 30, the November 2012 voter-approved tax hike initiative proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown (D). While the court's ruling does not affect the outcome of Prop. 30, it could limit the Legislature's use of "spot bills" in budget packages.
- "California Legislature's Ballot Maneuver Was Unconstitutional, Court Says" (Siders, Sacramento Bee, 1/19).
- "Court Ruling in Prop. 30 Case Limits Use of 'Spot Bills' in Budget" (Siders, "Capitol Alert," Sacramento Bee, 1/18).