Initiatives

I was pleased to see your Nov. 10 editorial about the initiative process, and I agree with much of what you have proposed.

I have always thought that an initiative, as well as a referendum, should be approved of on constitutional grounds by the attorney general, secretary of state and the state Supreme Court before it is placed on a ballot.

An opinion should be carefully limited to the consistency with the U.S. Constitution, without any political influence or the ability to cancel the initiative or the referendum. There are many unconstitutional laws on the state books, as well as the federal books, simply because no one has had either the incentive, or the knowledge or the money, to contest the unconstitutional laws.

Another point that is important is the name of the measure, which is oftentimes very misleading. More careful wording should be included in the instructions on the ballot to ensure that the public knows what the subject is and who is promoting and who is opposed to the issue.

HERVEY W. HERRON

Long Beach