A bill that would require ballot initiatives to identify how they’d be paid for has cleared a key senate committee.
Capital Public Radio's Steve Shadley reports...
Democratic Senator Denise Ducheny of San Diego wrote the measure. It would require citizen-driven initiatives to determine the funding source. She says it’s needed to prevent future state cash shortages like the one California is experiencing now...
“The idea of this is to say if you’re going to the state and local government you ought to identify the funding source at least voters are then saying yes we are going to put some money behind this new program...”
Ducheny says voters already have approved initiatives that explain how they’ll be paid for, like the hike in the tobacco tax for children’s programs known as “First Five.” The California Taxpayers Association opposes the change saying it may prevent citizens’ groups from getting measures on the ballot that would cut taxes.
The bill moves next to another committee for action. If passed by both houses and signed by the governor the constitutional amendment would still need voter approval.