[courtesy of California Progress Report]

We’re just 18 days away from Election Day

By Frank D. Russo

Monday is the deadline to register to vote for Californians who wish to participate in the upcoming June 3, 2008 statewide primary election which will determine who is running for Congress, state legislative offices, local offices, and also will determine the fate of state and local ballot propositions.

We have been getting increasing questions regarding where to obtain information on candidates and ballot propositions—which is a good thing—but the first step is to make sure everyone who wants to vote is eligible to do so.

We’ll be posting more about sources of information to become an informed voter—which include the California Voter Foundation Online Guide, the Secretary of State’s page on this election, and, of course, the California Progress Report and that Google search bar in our banner at the top.

Secretary of State Debra Bowen has provided the following information on how to register or make sure you are registered:

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

A suit filed by a group of “taxpayers” alleges the state’s plan to finance new prison construction with revenue bonds is an unconstitutional violation of the provision that demands a public vote authorizing such borrowing.

Highways, Schools, and other public infrastructure – including prisons – have until now been financed with general obligation bond approved by voters.

But public opinion surveys (and the last two bond measures) indicate the public is tired of spending on prisons. The public is not tired, however, of putting people into prison. An effort to modify the state’s “three strikes and you’re out” law, which provides life in prison for a third felony conviction following two “violent or serious” felony convictions, failed at the polls.

So our prisons gain more population annually.