A few days ago, I mentioned that PG&E’s little scheme to end any attempts to move in the slightest direction towards public power qualified for the ballot.  Basically, the initiative would require a 2/3 vote of the people for any new vaguely public power systems.  According to some analysts, this could mean that votes are required for new buildings within public power regions like Sacramento. It’s a bad law made worse with poor drafting.

So bad that several editorial boards have already come out to oppose the measure. Now, typically, you usually don’t see these endorsements until the campaign has really gotten going, and there’s a bit of information from both sides.  But from the plain text of the measure, the boards could see right through this little ploy.

Pacific Gas and Electric spent $3.5 million to collect more than a million signatures to qualify what it calls the Taxpayers Right to Vote Act for California’s June ballot. The title makes it sound like motherhood and apple pie. It’s just the opposite. If voters approve the scam, it will protect PG&E from dissatisfied customers angry about bad service and high costs. (Fresno Bee, 1/20/2010)

The point isn’t to protect taxpayers’ rights. It’s to protect the profits of a monopoly utility – both from ambitious clean-power schemes in San Francisco and from modest annexations in Redding. This is one measure where voters will need to look past the catchy slogan and see who really stands to benefit.(The Redding Record Searchlight 1/16/2010)

It is unusual for The Bee to come out against a ballot measure before the campaign has really started. The PG&E initiative deserves special attention. It’s that bad.(Sacramento Bee, 1/192010)

The verdict for progressives, and all Californians, on this one should be clear: Just say no to PG&E’s power grab.