From Fox & Hounds:
Where was the media?
The Citizens Initiative Review – the best proven way we have to evaluate ballot initiatives around the world – held a California pilot in Sacramento at the end of last month. And the state political media wasn’t there.
What gives? Media folks like to point out the flaws in the initiative process, but then miss an opportunity to see a method that has worked in Massachusetts, Oregon, and other Western states.
Too bad. The process brings together an independent panel of 20 California voters, through a process that uses random selection of registered voters and then is anonymously balanced to reflect the electorate. Then they hear testimony and ask questions about one ballot measure, and write a brief summary and arguments for or against.
