Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, a Democrat from San Jose and a truly grassroots progressive, wrote to Courage Campaign members today endorsing our Progressive Voter Guide.

Lofgren also explained her reasons for opposing Proposition 11, a flawed attempt at providing redistricting reform. The Courage Campaign has also endorsed a No vote on Prop 11, along with most other progressive groups in the state. Lofgren wrote:

Proposition 11 is billed as a redistricting reform measure, but this "cure" is worse than the disease.

Proposition 11 is bad policy and would be harmful to California. Because Republicans are facing a historic defeat this year, they've initiated, promoted, and funded Prop 11 to take control of a legislature they cannot otherwise win.

Prop 11 supporters claim that their only opposition comes from Sacramento legislators trying to protect their districts. That's not true. Prop 11 doesn't affect Congressional districts, yet Speaker Nancy Pelosi and many other California members of Congress agree with me that Prop 11 would turn back the progressive gains we've made in California and undermine what we're fighting to achieve.

I've lived in California my whole life. I've seen California communities fight Republican redistricting schemes for years -- because they disenfranchise voters and stifle minority voting rights. That's why the chairs of the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, along with the California Democratic Party, oppose Prop 11.

We can have truly nonpartisan redistricting reform that will protect the rights of ALL Americans. We need a uniform solution that comes at the federal level, one that applies to all 50 states. Unfortunately Prop 11 is not that reform.

Further confirmation of the right-wing nature of Prop 11 came today at Calitics, where it was reported that developers, oil companies, and the Chamber of Commerce have donated the bulk of the Yes on 11 campaign's money. These groups are closely allied to Arnold Schwarzenegger and informally known as his "Dream Team."

All 12 propositions on Tuesday's ballot will help shape California's future -- especially Prop 11. To help you make your choices in this momentous election, the Courage Campaign has created a printable voter guide that you can share with your friends today.

The "2008 Progressive Voter Guide" includes:

(1) Short, easy-to-read recommendations from the Courage Campaign Issues Committee.

(2) A handy chart of recommendations from nine other leading progressive organizations across California.

(3) A mobile phone guide that you can easily take into your polling place and send to your friends.

Make sure that your friends and family have a copy of this guide - let's make sure that the progressive wave about to sweep over America sweeps over California as well!

Prop 11 is a solution in search of a problem - and a bad solution at that. At a time when our state's budget crisis ought to remind us that the real problem is the ridiculous 2/3 rule, Broderist columnists like the LA Times' George Skelton are trying to put in one last pitch for Prop 11.

In doing so all they accomplish is highlighting the absurdity of their proposal and their cynical approach to politics - assuming that California voters are animated by blind rage and a desire to smash a broken government instead of thinking intelligently about how to fix it.

The interesting thing is that Skelton doesn't even attempt his usual efforts to argue why Prop 11 is needed. The "competitive elections" argument has been proved false by the six or seven competitive races in the Assembly, most of them in districts drawn to favor Republicans. Nor does Skelton attempt to say Prop 11 will solve the budget deficit. He merely assumes it to be a good idea.

Skelton lists "good government" organizations like Common Cause and LWV to suggest that Prop 11 isn't a Republican power grab - never mind the fact that Arnold and other right-wingers are dumping money into it. Nowhere does he explain the real purpose here: to keep Democrats away from a 2/3 majority in the Legislature.

He also gets the details wrong, claiming:

Under the proposal, any frequent voter could apply to be a redistricting commissioner -- as long as the person had no political connections. Prop. 11 drafters really wanted to ensure that commissioners had no partisan agendas.

But as Brian pointed out last night a drafting error *excludes* frequent voters. This vaunted "independent commission" will include infrequent and uninformed voters - which is fitting given that this proposal speaks primarily to such an audience.

More below.   Read More »

I know, I know, it's too easy. But what better headline can one come up with to assess the ridiculous and ineffective solutions proposed by Leon Panetta's high-powered, high cost group of high Broderists to solve the budget crisis?

George Skelton's column provides some of their early recommendations:   Read More »

Fabian Nunez is slated to give up the perks of power held by the office of Assembly Speaker when Karen Bass assumes the position next week. As promised several weeks ago, Nunez is introducing a three-piece constitutional amendment designed to reform the state legislature.   Read More »