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Published: May 20, 2009

Abort the initiative process?

Planned Parenthood supports bill that would make it more difficult for citizens to qualify ballot measures

The political action arm of the nine Planned Parenthood affiliates in California has thrown its considerable legislative clout behind a measure now pending in the state Assembly that would make it more difficult to qualify initiatives for the ballot.

Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California has gone on record in favor of AB 6, a bill sponsored by Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña, D-San Diego, which would require firms that hire signature gatherers to qualify state or local initiatives for the ballot to pay an annual fee and register with the secretary of state. The bill also requires such firms to provide a training program for signature gatherers on state laws regarding the initiative process and submit proof of such training to the secretary of state.

“A professional petition firm shall register annually with the Secretary of State in order to be eligible to pay individuals to circulate petitions and collect signatures in order to qualify an initiative on a state or local election ballot,” the bill says. “Registration shall include the full name, address, and partners, owners, or officers of the firm. This information shall be accompanied by a registration fee to be established by the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall use the registration fees to maintain on its Internet Web site a directory of professional petition firms and to defray any other costs associated with its requirements as described in this section. A member of a professional petition firm shall review the law relating to obtaining petition signatures, including prohibitions, with each paid petition circulator, individually or in a group, as a condition of his or her hiring. A copy of the training materials provided to the paid circulators shall be submitted by the firm to the Secretary of State. A statement, signed by a paid petition circulator and the individual who conducted the review, that that the paid petition circulator has received the review, required by this subdivision, of the relevant law relating to obtaining petition signatures, shall be submitted by the professional petition firm to the Secretary of State.”

In an analysis of the bill prepared for legislators, Planned Parenthood argues, “California's initiative process was originally envisioned as a volunteer-based effort to pass measures desired by a majority of the people. The current process has shifted to a system where increasingly large sums of money are required in order to qualify a measure for the ballot. These efforts now necessitate the use of paid signature gatherers, usually employed by a professional petition firm, at a typical cost of between $1 million and $3 million per initiative. This bill rightfully puts more responsibility on signature gathering firms to ensure their employees follow signature gathering laws.”

While Planned Parenthood cites the expense of qualifying ballot initiatives by using paid petition circulators, critics say the abortion provider has an ulterior motive: saving itself millions to fight initiatives it opposes. Since 2005, Planned Parenthood has spent more than $20 million to defeat three propositions that would have required parental notification before a minor undergoes an abortion. Planned Parenthood spent about $5.5 million to defeat Proposition 73 in 2005, $6.5 million to defeat Proposition 85 in 2006, and about $10 million to defeat Proposition 4 last year. Each measure failed by a narrow margin following massive television ad campaigns by Planned Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood also cites “measures desired by a majority of the people” in its argument in favor of AB 6, suggesting that initiatives like parental notification do not enjoy such support. But polls have consistently shown otherwise. As recently as Feb. 25, the Public Policy Institute of California released a poll showing that 68% of Californians support parental notification before a minor's abortion.

Critics of AB 6 say that paid signature gatherers are necessary because California election laws allow only 150 days to collect signatures from registered voters to qualify a ballot initiative – in some cases as many as 1 million signatures are needed. Other states allow up to two years to qualify an initiative, reducing the need for paying signature gatherers.

In addition to Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, AB 6 is supported by Secretary of State Debra Bowen, a longtime ally of Planned Parenthood. Opponents include the pro-life, pro-family groups Life Priority Network, California Family Council, and Capitol Resource Family Impact.

On May 13, the Assembly Appropriations Committee approved AB 6 and sent it to the Assembly floor by a vote of 11-5. All those voting in favor of the bill were Democrats. All the opposition votes came from Republicans.

If the measure wins approval from the full Assembly, it would then be considered in the state Senate. Should the legislature adopt the bill, it would go to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for his signature or veto.

Assemblywoman Saldaña, AB 6’s sponsor, also serves as Speaker pro Tempore of the Assembly. She chairs the Legislative Women’s Caucus and is a member of the California Commission on the Status of Women. In its 2008 “Legislative Scorecard,” Planned Parenthood gave Saldaña a 100% approval rating.

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