Beware THREE Proposed Constitutional Amendments

Next Monday, May 8, at 9:30 a.m., Senate Constitutional Amendments (SCA) 1, 2 and 3 are up for their first committee hearing.

Your representatives need to hear from you, NOW.

• SCA 1 proposes …

  in the event of a successful gubernatorial recall, the Lieutenant Governor will automatically fill the position.

  There will only be an election to select a new Governor under certain, very restrictive time circumstances. Otherwise, the Lieutenant Governor will serve out the entire rest of the original Governor’s term.

  • EIPCa OPPOSES this proposal.    Read EIPCa’s letter of opposition.

• SCA 2 proposes…

  lowering the voting age in California to 17.

  • EIPCa OPPOSES this proposal.    Read EIPCa’s letter of opposition.

• SCA 3 proposes…

  transferring the responsibility for creating title and summary for ballot initiatives from the Attorney General to the Legislative Analyst’s Office.

  • EIPCa SUPPORTS this proposal.    Read EIPCa’s letter of support.

To read the text of any of these bills, go to

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces//billSearchClient.xhtml,

• enter the bill number
• hit “submit”, and then
• click on “Today’s law as amended”.

Two IMMEDIATE Action Items:

1. If your State Senator is on this committee, make a constituent contact (email, phone, in-person) to express your opinion and your expectation for a vote.

   Find out who your State Senator at: https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/

   Find out who the Committee members are at: https://selc.senate.ca.gov/
   (scroll to the bottom)

2. Wherever you are in the state, CALL IN to the meeting and voice your opinion.

Instructions for attending committee hearings by phone:

1. On the morning of May 8, visit https://selc.senate.ca.gov/  for call-in numbers and other information.
    
2. When you call in, you will be connected to the call in “listen only” mode.
    
3. When each bill comes up for discussion, there will be a presentation from both the pro and con points of view.
    
4. Next is the public comment opportunity.
    
   • When the committee is ready for public comment, the moderator will first give instructions for people wishing to register a comment.
      
   • Listen to the instructions carefully. You will be asked to press 1 and then zero when you wish to be in queue to speak.
      
     • Only press 1 then 0 ONCE. If you do so again, you will be removed from the queue.
        

       If you make that error, press 1 then 0 again to re-enter the queue.
        

   • Listen carefully. At some point someone will connect to your call and give you a line number. REMEMBER IT for the duration of the hearing.
      
   • When your line number is called, your line will be unmuted, and that is when you may register your opinion.
      
     • Be sure your phone is unmuted!
        
   • When your number is called, give your:
     • Name
     • City or
     • Group affiliation (EIPCa or any other organization you belong to)
     • Position on the bill [“I (strongly, energetically, emphatically, etc.) oppose/support SCA (number)]

    

   • Do not attempt to elaborate or give arguments.
     • You are limited to the above.
5. Once you have weighed in, DO NOT HANG UP.
   • Stay on the line.
   • Repeat the above process until all bills you wish to speak to have been discussed.

The more of you who call in, the more impact we will have on the Committee.

Wait patiently and weigh in at the appropriate times.

REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME OF THE COMMITTEE VOTE,

IF YOU CALLED, YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE!

Though most members will already have their minds made up, and will vote accordingly, the impact of testimony and phone calls can cause amendments, vote changes and even withdrawal of the bill after the fact.

To make a difference, every person who can, must call.

Spread this information to everyone you can and let’s have a HUGE turnout.

Thank you for taking action!

[Click here to download article pdf]