Thursday June 6, 2013, 9:30 a.m.- noon

• Your input on programs and advocacy for 2013-2014
• Election of officers
• Bylaw changes
• Recognition of 50-year members
• Anthony Portantino will give an insider’s view of the legislative process.

Women’s City Club
Pasadena, CA

An Insider’s View of the Legislative Process

Anthony Portantino, former Assembly representative for the Pasadena area, was the luncheon speaker at our June, 2013, Annual Meeting. He provided an eye-opening account of state Assembly processes, which reveal an intense environment that can obstruct open government principles for which the LWV stands. He described procedures that have made it difficult to know how the state legislature is operating and recommended four actions that are needed to ensure that information is available to the public:

1. Assembly representatives should have equal budgets adequate to run their offices, regardless of political affiliation. Offices should be chosen by lottery rather than as favors.

2. All bills should be in print and available to the public at least three days before they are voted on to allow public review and comment.

3. Whistleblower protection should be provided for all branches of state government, without exception, for the legislature.

4. The legislature should not be exempt from public documents requests, such as requests for legislative budgets.

—Marge Nichols