Initiative Reform

Re “We Need to Take the Initiative on Constitutionality,” Commentary, June 28:

Does Bill Press really believe that requiring constitutional analysis would significantly improve California’s dysfunctional initiative process? The arguments and rebuttals published in the voters guide already comment on potential constitutional issues raised by the propositions. Voters seem perfectly willing to approve dubious initiatives in the hope that they will pass constitutional muster in the courts.

True reform of the initiative process would require the elimination of payment for signature collection and would allow petition circulators to collect signatures only in the county where they are registered to vote. These requirements would prevent the tobacco companies, the insurance industry and other special interests from buying off the process and would restore the role of the initiative as a grass-roots check on the system, as originally intended by California’s Progressive Era reformers.

DANIEL J. STONE

Beverly Hills