Improving the State Initiative Process

Your April 19 editorial condemning the co-optation of the initiative process by moneyed special interests is quite right.

The solution, however, you fail to mention. In Montana, citizens have banned corporations from financing initiatives out of corporate treasuries. A backdoor attempt by the Montana Legislature, under pressure from business interests, to undo the citizenry’s 1996 ballot measure was vetoed by the federal courts this month.

Perhaps it is time for California to ban direct spending by corporations on public policy ballot questions placed before the voters. And while we’re at it, let’s ban corporate contributions to candidates for public office (which have been banned in federal elections since 1907). Both measures are constitutional. Both would reduce the influence of special interests over civic discourse and decision-making in our state.

DOUGLAS PHELPS

CalPIRG

Santa Barbara

* Re “Prop. 223 Could Put a Cap on School Overhead” (April 19) and your editorial about the initiative process: These two articles point to the same problem. Our lawmakers refuse to represent their con- stituencies.

Let’s examine Prop. 223. It is designed in hopes of improving the schools, which is a noble goal. Prop. 223 will not work. Either it will get tied up in the courts or accounting changes will allow districts to comply. Improvement in the schools will not happen. Personally, I believe that a voucher system will achieve the results that people want from their schools. However, I have no hope that vouchers will ever be a part of the educational landscape in California.

More importantly, our elected officials need to start doing their jobs. Why must there be a ballot initiative to force the schools to spend money on the students?

It is a shame that we voters have to resort to ballot initiatives because our representatives choose not to represent us. In the absence of that representation, I will unwillingly live with ballot initiatives.

JOSEPH G. GRUENLING

Los Angeles

* Your editorial states, “The common use . . . today is for well-heeled special interests to write their own wishes into the state law or the Constitution.” In my opinion that’s fiction. The fact: to write their own wishes into initiatives that can be voted on by the people. Quite a difference!

When you take the initiative option away from the people, you’re taking away America’s freedom!

CARL C. WICKSTROM

Sherman Oaks