FRESNO (KMJ/AP) — The rules governing recall elections in California have been changed, and Republicans say its in response to voter outcry over Democratic Senator Josh Newman’s vote to the increase the gas tax.
Backers of the effort in Fullerton are currently asking for signatures in order to trigger a recall election and remove Newman from office following his vote for SB-1. Doing so would mean Democrats would lose their super-majority in the California State Senate.
The alteration to the law was made Thursday in Sacramento, and came at the same time as a vote on the state’s budget. It would give voters 30 days to remove their signatures from a recall petition, and would give lawmakers an additional 30 days to establish how much a recall election would cost.
“There’s a legitimate recall going on, his voters are not happy about it, and the Democrats stepped in and changed the rules of the game right in the middle of the recall process,” says Assemblyman Jim Patterson. “By the way making it nearly impossible, because of the time segments put into this bill, nearly impossible to recall a member of the assembly.”
He considers the move outrageous.
“They are tampering with the fundamental provisions of the state constitution, for the purpose of allowing voters to say thumbs up or thumbs down to their elected officials.”
Voters looking to remove Senator Josh Newman have already collected 35,000 signatures, although they have not been officially verified. The change to the rules could mean that the election instead coincides with the June or November ballot in 2018, instead of a special election.
Democrats say the changes are needed because the campaign to recall Newman has misled voters when gathering signatures.
Assemblyman Jim Patterson spoke to KMJ Friday morning about the move. You can hear the full interview below:
