Jessica Levinson
Jessica Levinson is an Associate Clinical Professor at Loyola Law School. She focuses on the intersection of law and government.
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The current legal framework breeds the almost ceaseless need for campaign cash, which harms both officeholders and the public.
Running for the highest elected office in the City of Angels is not an inexpensive undertaking.
Thus far the City Council has failed to put forward specific plans to regulate so-called pot shops. Two groups, both medical marijuana advocates, are proposing competing ballot initiatives.
As we embark on the new year I encourage all of you to review the legislation proposed and passed by your representatives. Examine their other political activities. Determine for yourself whether they are doing their jobs by serving you.
A word to the wise: Just when you thought "silly season" ended with the election, it did not.
A funny thing happened on the way to Election Day for this congressional race in San Bernardino County. New York City's mayor got involved and changed the outcome.
This month Californians experienced a full round of elections under our new open primary, top-two election system and our new legislative lines, drawn for the first time in the state's history by an independent redistricting commission.
The wrinkle is that special interests groups largely, if not exclusively, fund many of these trips.
Californians have now lived through a full election cycle with two big election reforms.
All of the campaigning comes down to us. We are, the "deciders." Our representative form of government depends on the ability and willingness of its representatives to exercise their right to vote.
So much for transparency. A donation of $11 million has been given by an Arizona non-profit corporation to two California ballot measure committees -- and that's about as much as we know at this point.
One thing is already clear: The amount of money being given and spent to urge members of the electorate to vote "yes" or "no" on these measures is significant.