California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Friday that he and his fellow Democratic leaders in the state legislature are trying to negotiate a Proposition 47 reform measure off the November ballot, but Republican leaders affirmed their support for the voters to determine whether parts of the initiative should be repealed.
Proposition 47, which was approved by voters in 2014, made several crimes, including shoplifting, grand theft and receiving stolen property, a misdemeanor instead of a felony if the value of the property is not exceeded $950. It also reduced the penalty for personal use of most illegal drugs below a certain weight.
Authorities, businesses and others have blamed the initiative for the rise in theft in California, according to KCRA.
“There are a lot of moving parts, a lot of negotiations going on at the same time,” Newsom told reporters Friday. “Proposition 47 is included.”
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he and Democratic leaders in the state Legislature are trying to negotiate a Proposition 47 reform off the November ballot. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
The governor and some Democrats have said they do not support the bipartisan effort to amend Proposition 47. Newsom and legislative leaders are pushing some public safety bills circulating around the state Capitol that attempt to address organized retail theft, car thefts and other crimes. after state residents expressed concern about rising crime.
The Proposition 47 reform initiative is likely to hit the ballot box, according to recent data from the California Secretary of State’s office. Reform advocates gathered 910,000 signatures in support of the ballot measure, although signatures are still being verified.
Some Democratic lawmakers plan to add blackout clauses to public safety bills to prevent them from taking effect if voters approve Proposition 47 reforms, according to KCRA. Some Democrats said this is to ensure there are no inconsistencies in the law, a claim the campaign seeking to reform Proposition 47 rejected on Friday.
Republicans call this plan a “poison pill.” Republican leaders wrote a letter to Democratic leaders Thursday announcing their opposition to “poison pills” that include repealing retail theft bills should voters adopt Proposition 47 reforms.
“To combat the crime wave in California, we need to strengthen our laws, both in the Legislature and at the ballot box,” Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones said in a statement. “It is irresponsible to force voters to falsely choose between the two. Unfortunately, some Democratic politicians are too proud to admit their mistake with Proposition 47 and continue to deny the desperate need for reform. Democrats’ poison pill amendments are “a cynical attempt to mislead voters and prevent a necessary review of our broken laws.”
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The governor and some Democrats have said they do not support the bipartisan effort to amend Proposition 47. (MediaNews Group/East Bay Times via Getty Images)
Newsom declined to say whether he would sign the legislation if it included blackout clauses. When asked if he wasn’t confident voters would reject the measure if it made it to the November ballot, the governor said he doesn’t think it’s necessary to put it on the ballot.
“Why have something on the ballot that doesn’t actually achieve its intended goals? Why do something that can be done legislatively, with more flexibility? I think that’s a better approach,” he said.
The ballot initiative would change Proposition 47 to improve penalties for repeat thieves, requiring people who steal for the third time to spend up to three years in prison. The measure would also classify possession of fentanyl as a felony.
“Democrats should stop playing politics with public safety and let voters decide how to fix Proposition 47,” Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher said in a statement. “These poison pills show that Democrats are not serious about ending the crime wave; they just want to look like they are doing something because their years-long support for criminals has become a political liability.”
Proposition 47, approved by voters a decade ago, made several crimes, including shoplifting, grand theft and receiving stolen property, a misdemeanor instead of a felony if the value of the property did not exceed $950. . (FoxNews)
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Democratic Senator Pro Tempore Mike McGuire has said the measure is unnecessary and that the public safety legislative package is the best option.
“If you want a set of laws that limits retail theft, this plan is exactly what is needed in this state,” McGuire said. “That’s why these bills have the support of law enforcement, firefighters, retailers, store owners and trusted local leaders. These 14 bills being passed next week are not about partisan politics, but about keeping the people of California safe.
California’s secretary of state has until June 27 to certify the November vote, meaning Democratic leaders have just weeks to try to negotiate the measure off the ballot.
