The ‘Stop the Energy Shutdown’ Referendum

In a recent opinion piece by Jim Newton, he highlights the historical significance of government initiatives like referendums, ballot initiatives, and recalls. These processes, championed by Hiram Johnson and the California Progressives over a century ago, were designed to empower the people and counteract the influence of big businesses, particularly the Southern Pacific Railroad.

Newton emphasizes that these mechanisms were about putting “people over business.” However, he draws attention to a referendum on the 2024 ballot called “Stop The Energy Shutdown,” sponsored by California oil producers and energy workers. He questions whether this referendum attempts to “undo the acts of the people’s elected leaders” and cites actress and activist Jane Fonda, who called it “an egregious attack on democracy.”

What Newton conveniently fails to mention is the context surrounding the “Stop The Energy Shutdown” referendum:

• The Rushed Legislation: The “Stop The Energy Shutdown” referendum was initiated in response to Senate Bill 1137, introduced by Sacramento politicians just five days before the end of the 2022 legislative session. SB 1137 aimed to terminate domestic oil production, impacting approximately 15,500 oil wells and endangering the livelihoods of 55,000 Californians.

• Preventing Due Process: The legislative process typically includes public hearings, notices, and opportunities for all stakeholders to provide input. It allows for scientific and health expert opinions and permits affected groups to testify, question, and propose solutions in a public forum.

• Lack of Comprehensive Analysis: The rushed passage of SB 1137 did not include an assessment of its potential impacts on gas prices, local community revenues, the financial well-being of oil industry workers, or the environmental consequences of increased oil tanker traffic from the Middle East.

• Neglect of Public Input: There was no allowance for expert testimonies from impacted parties, engineers, or health experts who could have provided insights into California’s oil industry operations.

In such cases, where elected officials disregard the interests of the people they represent, risk thousands of jobs, harm the environment, and create unintended consequences due to personal political agendas, referendums become an essential tool for pushing back. They offer a platform for voicing opinions, fostering dialogue, and allowing for the review and evaluation of facts.

The “Stop the Energy Shutdown” referendum gained one million signatures in record time, demonstrating Californians’ desire for lower gas prices and their call for elected officials to take notice.

Direct democracy is a hallmark of California politics, and when politicians rush through legislation like SB 1137 without due process, the people of California have every right ensure their voices are heard.

The referendum process is not an attack on democracy but a safeguard against rushed decisions that can have far-reaching consequences. It is an essential means of ensuring transparency, accountability, and the continued empowerment of the people in shaping their state’s future.