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Republicans Violate the Law to Qualify Electoral Vote Scam--Break the Rules in Effort to Change the Rules?

towashington 089.gif By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

It’s a race against time and money as Republican operatives attempt to qualify an initiative that would change California’s winner-take-all Presidential Election into a proportional division of the electoral votes that would substantially increase the Republican chances of retaining the Presidency next year.

Because the stakes are so high, it appears that some are willing to cheat.

In a story printed in today’s Sacramento Bee, Republican Congressman Darrell Issa is said to be “sending out letters to the same voters who signed the recall position in 2003”.

But that’s against the law. California Elections Code 18650 states clearly that, “No one shall knowingly or willfully permit the list of signatures on an initiative, referendum, or recall petition to be used for ANY PURPOSE other than qualification of the initiative, referendum or recall”. [Emphasis added] Violation of this section is a misdemeanor.

That’s pretty clear, isn’t it? Wouldn’t you expect a Member of Congress to know the law? Well, maybe we can’t expect a Republican Member of Congress to obey the law??

The Bee goes on: "(Issa) has been very generous, very helpful," Rollins said. "He has given us his lists and his database from the recall effort. I think his contribution was extremely generous."

Now we can’t expect San Diego D.A. Bonnie Dumanis to enforce the law against a Republican Congressman. And we know about the U.S. Attorneys.

So it’s now up to State Attorney General Edmund G. Brown, Jr. to set an example and stop a pernicious practice by G.O.P. signature gatherers so pervasive that they can brag about it to the media. They shouldn’t even have this database, let alone be using it.

While the violation involving the use of the data is only a misdemeanor, providing the signatures, database, and anything else owned by the Recall Committee is an "in kind contribution"-- an unreported contribution. The Recall committee needs to approve it in order to provide this asset to the "California Counts" committee that is trying to qualify the Electoral College scheme on the ballot. Such a use could be in violation of the trust provisions that govern ballot measure expenditures (felonies). And the unreported contribution and the person controlling the committee could be prosecuted under the criminal misdemeanor provisions of the political reform act. (Where the penalty is loss of office”)

After all, don’t we all believe in law and order?

Bill Cavala was Deputy Director of the Assembly Speaker’s Office of Member Services where he worked for over 30 years.

He attended undergraduate and graduate school in the 1960’s and received a doctorate in political science at UC Berkeley. He taught political science at UC Berkeley during the 1970's while he worked part-time for the State Assembly.

Cavala left teaching at UC Berkeley and went to work for Assembly Speaker Willie Brown in 1981 until his tenure as Speaker ended in 1995, and he has worked for his five successors as Speaker up to and including Speaker Fabian Nunez.

Mr. Cavala manages election campaigns for Democratic candidates.

Posted on November 01, 2007

Comments

A copy of the Issa's letter that's being sent follows. The recipient, stated that "Dear Neighbors,
This initiative makes sense to me, so I thought I’d pass it along." She was referenced to the New Yorker Article pointing out this latest Republican Scam, and apologized--but she may have signed!

------ Forwarded Message
From: Congressman Darrell Issa
Reply-To:
Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2007 18:33:36 -0800
To:
Subject: California Counts! - Make Your Vote Count!

Darrell Issa
U.S. Representative

Hello,

In 2003, I called on Californians to come together to take control of their state government and recall Gray Davis. Over 1.5 million responded by signing our recall petition.

Now, I need your help to put a vitally important measure on the June ballot to reform the Electoral College.

California’s current ‘winner-take-all” system is not fair and makes our votes irrelevant in Presidential elections. Our reform initiative will make sure your vote counts and make sure every candidate wins his or her fair share of electoral college votes from California.

This initiative is NOT about helping any one party or candidate. It simply makes sure that every vote cast in our state counts in the Electoral College.

In 1988, Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis received 48% of the vote, but received ZERO electoral delegates from California.
In 2004, Republican nominee George Bush received 44% of the vote, but received ZERO electoral delegates from California.
It has been over 30 years since presidential candidates have actively sought the votes of Californians. Without this reform initiative, they will take us for granted again in 2008.

Here is what I need you to do:

Download the petition: California Counts Petition
Print the petition out on your home or office printer on 8.5 x 11 paper. DO NOT adjust the margins and please use white paper and black ink.
Please Sign and date your petition and mail it back to this address:

California Counts 921 11th Street Suite 400 Sacramento, CA 9581
You can also help by forwarding this email to your friends and associates, or, if you prefer, we will forward the petition for you. Just send us your email list and we will take care of everything else.

Also, please visit our website, www.calcounts.org for more information.

Thank you for helping make sure your vote – and every vote - counts, and thank you for helping make California a better place.
Sincerely,

Darrell Issa
U.S. Representative

P.S. I am not an officer, director or organizer of “California Counts” – just a citizen who wants to make sure this important measure is placed before voters. Please join me.

Paid for by Issa for Congress, ID#C00350520
In accordance with federal law, Congressman Darrell Issa is not soliciting individual funds beyond federal limits ($2300 per election) and is not soliciting contributions from corporations, labor organizations, federal government contractors and foreign nationals without permanent residence status “green cards”. Contributions are not tax deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.
Click here to be removed from our mailing list.

------ End of Forwarded Message

Posted by: DeanS at November 12, 2007 12:45 AM

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