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Brown Signs Bills to Move Ballot Measures to Novembers & Online Voter Reg

October 7, 2011 by Calitics

by Brian Leubitz

First, let's say one thing, SB 202 is not a simple stroke of genius that makes initiatives all of a sudden a great system. But, it is a fair reform that lets the full electorate vote on important measures.

In short, SB 202 moves all future (so doesn't apply to measures already qualified for the ballot) initiatives placed on the ballot through signatures to general elections.  In other words, gubernatorial and presidential elections.

Of course, the Right is pretty livid about this, as this June was going to be their dream election to put a bunch of right-wing crap on the ballot. With low turnout on the Democratic side, we would basically have the electorate of Arizona or something.

You can read Governor Brown's signing message for SB 202 here or below the fold.  He refers to a rainy day fund measure that will be on the ballot that is moved by SB 202, in the context of wanting to avoid putting additional money into a bank account when we are broke.  (Makes sense, huh?)

In other news, the Governor also approved finally allowing people to register to vote online. Which, if you think about it makes perfect sense. So, apparently Jerry has some of that common sense thing. Hooray!

Payroll Debit Cards - Less Choice, Lower Wages

October 5, 2011 by Calitics

by Angie Wei, California Labor Federation

Bank of America's new $5 monthly debit fee, unveiled Friday, sparked howls of protest from furious bank customers now threatening to walk away to more consumer-friendly banking options. No one knows exactly how many will follow through on the threat, but according to one poll, a $5 monthly fee will drive 66% of debit users towards alternative methods of payment—cash, credit cards, or “other.” Agree or disagree with the 66%, but at least everyone can agree that it’s good consumers can freely decide to spend however they want and bank wherever they choose, right? Wrong.

Thanks to unaffordable fees, credit checks and other obstacles, big banks have shut out about a million California households from access to any banking services whatsoever. These “unbanked” workers, unable to receive direct deposit, have in recent years found employers replacing paper paychecks with mysterious “payroll debit” cards—electronic cards that charge massive fees only a banking lobbyist could love. Employers issue cards directly to workers, wages are loaded onto an account managed by the bank, and every payday, the nickel and diming begins anew.