Political Reform Program: Publications, Events and More

Europe's Promise

Erin Drankoski — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 08:16:00 -0500

A quiet revolution has been occurring in post-World War II Europe. A world power has emerged across the Atlantic that is recrafting the rules for how a modern society should provide economic security, environmental sustainability, and global stability. In Europe's Promise, Steven Hill explains Europe's bold new vision. For a decade Hill traveled widely to understand this uniquely European way of life. He shatters myths and shows how Europe's leadership manifests in five major areas: economic strength, with Europe now the world's wealthiest

Better and Cheaper Elections for Vancouver

Erin Drankoski — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:32:00 -0500

The most expensive mayoral race in Vancouver's history is over. The bad news: It took two elections, hundreds of thousands of dollars and a fair amount of mud-slinging to produce a winner. The good news: Vancouver has the ability to cut election costs and campaign spending as well as restore civility to the electoral process in one fell swoop.

California's Revolutionaries | Le Monde

Erin Drankoski — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:05:00 -0500

On the docket: "Proposition 13," the referendum by which the people of California, in 1978, voted to amend the constitution of the state to limit taxes. The text of the referendum caps the property tax to 1% of property value. To raise taxes, there needs to be a super-majority vote of two thirds in the legislature. "California is the only state where it takes a two-thirds majority vote to pass a budget and raise taxes, comments Steven Hill

A Radical Solution for California's Intractable Woes

Erin Drankoski — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:37:00 -0500

"Are you ready to put on your white wigs?" That is a question I have been posing lately to many everyday Californians, as the Golden State considers if a constitutional convention composed of regular folks might hold the solution to California's ongoing political and budgetary woes.

The Problem Is Minority Rule

Erin Drankoski — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 06:21:00 -0400

The health care drama in the U.S. Senate is cresting. After months of hearings--and decades of dithering--it is time to see if the United States is going to remain the only advanced industrial nation in the world that does not provide universal health care.

New America Foundation Commends Governor Schwarzenegger for Signing AB 30, Allowing 17 Year Olds to Preregister to Vote

Elizabeth Wu — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:28:00 -0400

For Immediate Release

Health-Care Cooperatives Can Work

Erin Drankoski — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:52:00 -0400

Health-care cooperatives have gotten a bad rap. But if properly designed, they could offer quite a lot to both the left and the right, as well as to anyone interested in expanding health-care coverage and reducing costs.

Steven Hill on the Economic Breakdown in California | Austrian Broadcasting Company

Erin Drankoski — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:04:00 -0400

Change We Can't Believe In | New Statesman

Cecille Isidro — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:49:00 -0400

... but this will only, in the words of Steven Hill of the New America Foundation, "push fuel efficiency by 2020 to a level that European and Japanese cars ...

Choosing Our New 'Founders' | North County Times (CA)

Erin Drankoski — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:02:00 -0400

Of the suggestions thus far, one made by Steven Hill of the New America Foundation at a Constitutional Convention Town Hall held in July in Santa Monica seems to make the most sense. ... Original Article

Instant Runoff: The Vote Of The Future? | Long Beach Press-Telegram

Erin Drankoski — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:59:00 -0400

A nonprofit public policy think tank that is advocating the idea -- the Washington, D.C.-based New America Foundation -- said that instant runoff voting changes the nature of political campaigns. ... Original Article

Obama's Cunning Co-Op Plan

Erin Drankoski — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:31:00 -0400

Throughout the healthcare debate, President Obama has not always appeared very "presidential". He hasn't engaged in LBJ-like arm twisting or FDR-like brinksmanship, or exerted the strong leadership that the office of the presidency has been known to possess. Other than his brilliant healthcare speech in early September, Obama has mostly seemed content to lay low while the Senate thrashes out the details.

A Constitutional Approach to Fixing California | New America Media

Cecille Isidro — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 02:07:00 -0400

... affect public policy for the whole state and how it is governed,” said Gautam Dutta, deputy director for political reform at the New America Foundation. ...

Instant Runoff Voting Could Streamline the Long Beach Balloting Process | Long Beach Press-Telegram

Cecille Isidro — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 18:56:00 -0400

Gautam Dutta of the New America Foundation, an election reform group that has been pushing for the council to consider IRV, refutes these criticisms. ...

Student Leaders Seek Governor's Signature on AB 30 (preregistration of 17 year olds to vote)

Elizabeth Wu — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:32:00 -0400

Sacramento, CA -- Diana Li, President of the California Association of Student Councils, along with student leaders from around the state, asked that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger sign Assembly Bill 30, a bill to lower the voter registration age to 17, at a Capitol press conference yesterday. Following the press conference, Li and her fellow student leaders met with a legislative deputy to the Governor and presented a petition signed by students seeking support for the legislation. The Governor has until October 11 to either sign or veto the legislation.

To EV or Not to EV, That Is The Question | Reuters

Cecille Isidro — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:26:00 -0400

Terry Tamminen, who was Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency under Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, threw down the gauntlet ...

Law Would Engage More Teens in Voting

Erin Drankoski — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 06:31:00 -0400

It has been a tough year for California. The Golden State, known for decades as an innovator and agent of change, had to issue IOUs to pay its debts. Investment in the future, which used to be California's guiding vision, has taken a back seat to plugging the many holes in the leaky dike of our antiquated institutions.

Can a 17-year-old Register to Vote? It Depends | Ventura County Star

Cecille Isidro — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:06:00 -0400

“As you look at other states, this has been a thoroughly nonpartisan or bipartisan issue,” said Blair Bobier, deputy director of the New America Foundation ...

Instant Runoff Voting | Press-Telegram (California)

Erin Drankoski — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 15:12:00 -0400

Gautam Dutta's comments on IRV in Long Beach have been published The Press-Telegram. ... Original Article

Like Hollywood, U.S. Should Update Its Voting System

Erin Drankoski — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 07:59:00 -0400

Once upon a time, Hollywood cinematographers, disenchanted with black-and-white movies, embraced color film to more faithfully represent what they saw through the lenses of their cameras. Now Hollywood has taken an equally innovative step to represent the preferences of those who make the movies.