AirTalk

What new signature requirements will mean for future California state ballot initiatives

By AirTalk Staff

Published Nov 16, 2018 9:56 AM

MODESTO, CA - NOVEMBER 06: Mailed in ballots sit in US Postal Service bins inside the office of the Stanislaus County Clerk on November 6, 2018 in Modesto, California. Stanislaus County is in California's 10th Congressional District which is host to a close race for US Congress between Democrat Josh Harder and Republican Jeff Denham. (Photo by Alex Edelman/Getty Images)

Listen 1:03:20

We discuss what the new signature requirements for ballot measures are and what they mean for Californians. We also debate the Education Dept’s newly proposed protections for students accused of sexual assault; and more.

What new signature requirements will mean for future California state ballot initiatives

State audit says unsound decision making added billions to bullet train cost

Listen 10:27

State audit says unsound decision making added billions to bullet train cost

The California High Speed Rail Authority’s decision to start construction on the bullet train in Central Valley ahead of finalizing its plans and obtaining land has led to $600 million in cost overrun, according to a report published Thursday by State Auditor Elaine Howle.

We get the latest on the audit, as well as what it means for the future of the bullet train in California.

We have reached out to the High Speed Rail Authority but they declined our request for an interview. We have also reached out the California State Auditor’s Office, but they could not provide someone in time for the interview.

Guests:

Ralph Vartabedian, national correspondent for the Los Angeles Times, covering bullet trains and auto safety issues, who has been following the story; he tweets

Tweets by RVartabedian

James Moore, professor of industrial, systems and civil engineering and director of the Transportation Engineering Program at USC

What new signature requirements will mean for future California state ballot initiatives

Listen 11:22

What new signature requirements will mean for future California state ballot initiatives

In the state of California, the number of signatures required to qualify a measure for the ballot is based on the number of votes cast in the gubernatorial race.

Petitioners must collect signatures equal to eight percent of the most recent gubernatorial vote for initiated constitutional amendments. While signatures equal to five percent of this vote are required to place a statute or veto referendum on the ballot. According to the latest numbers, 9,920,209 people voted in the governor’s race, where Democrat Gavin Newsom won over Republican John Cox. Due to this voter turnout, the signature threshold for future ballot initiatives rose from 365,880 to 615,000 for statutes and from 585,407 to 984,000 for constitutional amendments. The rise in signature requirements will make efforts to qualify future propositions more expensive.

The change will make it harder for individuals to get their initiatives on the ballot. Meanwhile, those who can afford to fund their initiatives will have a clear advantage over those with limited resources. Some analysts say limiting initiatives on the ballot is a good thing as numerous ballot measures confuse the average voter. We discuss what the new signature requirements for ballot measures are and what does it mean to Californians.

Guest:

Fernando Guerra, professor and director of the Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University; he is a member of the Southern California Public Radio Board of Trustees

AirTalk debates: Education Dept’s newly proposed protections for students accused of sexual assault

Listen 9:28

AirTalk debates: Education Dept’s newly proposed protections for students accused of sexual assault

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is proposing a major overhaul to the way colleges handle complaints of sexual misconduct.

The Education Department released a plan Friday that would require schools to investigate sexual assault and harassment only if the alleged misconduct was reported to certain campus officials and only if it occurred on campus or other areas overseen by the school.

The plan would narrow the definition of sexual harassment and allow students accused of misconduct to cross-examine accusers in campus hearings.

DeVos' proposal would replace Obama-era guidelines she scrapped last year, saying they were unfair to students accused of sexual misconduct.

The new guidelines aim to give greater protections to accused students while also giving schools flexibility to offer support to victims who don't file a formal complaint.

We debate the newly proposed guidelines.

Guests:

Jenna Parker, partner at Hathaway Parker, LLP; she specializes in Title IX cases and has represented students and others accused of sexual misconduct

Michele Dauber, professor of Law and Sociology at Stanford University; chair of the “Enough is Enough Voter Project,” a political action committee that advocates for making violence against women a voting issue; she helped revise Stanford’s policy on sexual assault

FilmWeek: 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,' 'Widows,' 'Instant Family' and more

Listen 31:12

FilmWeek: 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,' 'Widows,' 'Instant Family' and more

Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Amy Nicholson and Peter Rainer review this weekend’s new movie releases.

"Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" in wide release
"Widows" in wide release
"Instant Family" in wide release
"Green Book" at ArcLight Hollywood, AMC Century City and The Landmark
"At Eternity's Gate" at the ArcLight Hollywood & The Landmark
- The Frame host John Horn interviewed Willem Dafoe this week about his role in the film. You can listen to that interview here
"Jinn" at Laemmle's Playhouse
"Under the Wire" at Laemmle's Playhouse
"The Last Race" at Laemmle's Monica Film Center
"The Long Dumb Road" at Laemmle's Monica Film Center
"Cam" streaming on Netflix
"The Gilligan Manifesto" at Laemmle's Music Hall