The Sacramento Bee picked up one part of our release about the propositions in the June 8 primary, and placed it with a photo on page 3, "Capitol and California." Read the article and our release, and see the link.
OUR NEWS ADVISORY: ONE WEEK LATER: Independent Green Party gubernatorial candidate expresses hope after state Primary, hits Jerry Brown for role in Prop. 14 passage
OAKLAND – One week after Laura Wells won her contested race to become the independent candidate for governor on the Green Party ticket, she sees some signs of hope – and a little despair – in primary election results. And she suggests Jerry Brown played a part in the “despair” category.
“It is hopeful,” said Wells, "that voters saw through the attempt by corporations to take over our government,” referring to two of the four contested propositions that deluged California voters with misleading ads, and were rejected by voters at the ballot box.
Wells said Proposition 16 ads touted a future with green energy, but people saw it was sponsored by PG&E and other private power companies, and their suspicions were aroused. Prop 17 ads promoted greater choice in car insurance, but again, voters knew it was sponsored by a car insurance company, and voted it down.
She blames Brown for playing a role in the passage of Prop. 14.
“Jerry Brown, who just Tuesday admitted he supported Prop. 14, was responsible for the very misleading ballot language: ‘Increases the right to participate in primary elections.” His department approved that language. In fact, Prop. 14 severely limits choices for voters, and promotes the same politicians we have today. Something voters don’t want,” said Wells.
“The despair,” Wells noted, “comes in when a proposition is promoted or opposed by corporations, but it's not upfront. Prop 14 is a perfect example. Corporations, including big insurance companies, the governor, Hewlett Packard and other high tech firms in Silicon Valley, funded it to the tune of more than $5 million.
“It’s not the voters’ fault, but the fault of Brown and the corporations who fully intend to manipulate the rest of us for their financial gain,” she added.
“The recent Supreme Court decisions that corporate ‘persons’ can spend as much as they want on political campaigns hit a nerve in the American people – across the political spectrum. When voters know a proposition is sponsored by mega-corporations, they vote no. That's hopeful for taking our state, and our economy, back,” Wells said.
