Voters deserve clear, neutral ballot summaries and titles

A projected inaugural that would transportation the authorization for penning ballot titles and summaries from the authorities lawyer wide to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office picked up the endorsement of the California Chamber of Commerce past week.

Voters should expect “clear, close and utile descriptions of ballot measures to assistance them marque an informed determination erstwhile they vote,” CalChamber said successful a statement.

Misleading ballot measurement titles and summaries person agelong been a root of vexation successful California, often leaving galore voters wondering whether a “yes” ballot oregon a “no” ballot is aligned with their intention. It’s not an accident. Politically almighty peculiar involvement groups tin power the lawyer general, who is simply a partisan elected official.

The AG wields large powerfulness implicit the result of the ballot connected ballot measures, due to the fact that galore voters cognize small oregon thing of the measures beyond the rubric and summary that look connected their ballot.

Former authorities legislator Sam Blakeslee is the authoritative proponent of the inaugural to propulsion that work distant from the lawyer wide and manus it to the Legislative Analyst’s Office. Blakeslee’s measurement besides contains immoderate safeguards to guarantee that the LAO remains autarkic and non-partisan, and that the connection utilized to picture ballot measures is easy understood and intelligibly states whether a measurement increases taxes.

CalChamber whitethorn person been triggered into an endorsement erstwhile authorities lawyer wide Rob Bonta released the authoritative rubric and summary for a measurement that seeks to adjacent loopholes that courts person carved retired to marque it easier to rise taxes. Proponents of that measurement called it “The Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act.” Bonta titled it, “Limits State and Local Governments’ Ability to Raise Revenues for Government Services.”

Choosing the connection “revenues” oregon “funding” successful spot of “taxpayer” is an casual mode to mislead voters into reasoning the authorities is sitting connected a heap of its ain cash, alternatively of reasoning astir their ain pouch and however that currency was removed from it. It sounds similar poll-tested connection reflecting the interests of Bonta’s governmental allies.

Alliances shouldn’t beryllium portion of the equation. Voters are entitled to clear, close and neutral descriptions of the measures that look connected their ballot. The Ballot Measure Transparency Act is an important and agelong overdue betterment that deserves support.