CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : SACRAMENTO : Constitutional Convention Bid Fails

The state Senate, by a 14-16 vote, rejected a resolution to ask voters to consider calling a convention to rewrite the state Constitution. The measure needed at least 27 aye votes, a two-thirds majority, to move to the Assembly. Opponents said an open-ended convention could result in the elimination of important liberties. But the author of the convention resolution, Sen. Barry Keene (D-Ukiah), said the current system throws too many roadblocks in the way of major programs and decisions. He warned that lack of significant change could threaten representative democracy. California voters called for a convention once before, in the 1930s, but it never took place because lawmakers did not pass implementing legislation.