Join our campaign: Yes on 54—Voters First, Not Special Interests, www.YesProp54.org

Fact Sheet and Other Materials

Materials available on the Yes on Prop 54 website include this fact sheet: http://yesprop54.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Prop.-54-Fact-Sheet-7.15.16.pdf, as well as FAQs (frequently asked questions), and more.

Sample Letter to the Editor

Note: Please check your local paper’s word limit for a published letter. If you are not a League president or their designee, you are not authorized to sign letters to the editor in the name of the League. You are encouraged, however, to express your views as a Californian and you are welcome to cite that you agree with the League's position.

Dear Editor:

It’s not uncommon for California’s laws to arise from last-minute deals made behind closed doors. Often, even legislators—much less the public and the media—don’t realize what’s in the bills that they vote on. The result? Special interests with “access” have much more influence than ordinary Californians.

Proposition 54 levels the playing field to give voters the power we deserve. It requires every bill to be in print and posted online for 72 hours before its final vote in either house of the legislature. This will let us all scrutinize and participate in the work our representatives in Sacramento do. Improving transparency is the reason for another Prop 54 reform: the legislature must post online a video recording of every legislative meeting that is open to the public, and individuals will be able to make and share their own recordings.

Such simple, common-sense rules. Vote YES on Prop 54!

Sincerely,
Your name

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Sample Newsletter Article

SAMPLE NEWSLETTER:

Vote Yes on Prop. 54

Did you know that right now, proposed state laws can be written behind closed doors by special interests and rushed through the legislative process within a matter of hours, leaving no time for proper review and input by the very people the laws impact? Sadly, this long-term practice at our State Capitol has resulted in bad public policy and unintended consequences for all Californians.

The good news is that there is a solution to this problem: Proposition 54, which will appear on the November statewide ballot. Prop. 54 will not only ensure adequate time for consideration of legislation, it will also provide increased access to the legislative process for the people of our state.

Proposition 54 will:

1. Require the Legislature to distribute and post online legislation in its final form for at least 72 hours before a final floor vote by either house.
2. Require the Legislature to post online a video record of every legislative meeting that is supposed to be open to the public.
3. Allow all individuals to create and share their own recordings of legislative proceedings.

Enactment of Prop. 54 will help ensure legislative proceedings are conducted fairly and openly, and enable the public to observe and share what is happening in the Legislature so citizens may more fully participate in the political process. No longer will proposed laws be rushed through the legislature without the ability of the public to know what is going on and weigh in on policy that impacts them.

Prop. 54 supporters include the League of Women Voters of California, the California Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business/CA, Latin Business Association, California Common Cause, the California NAACP, the First Amendment Coalition, and the Planning and Conservation League, among many others.

To join in support of this measure to increase legislative transparency and to prevent flawed policy from being rushed through with no time for public input, please visit http://yesprop54.org/. And remember to Vote Yes on 54 on November 8!