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Post by Michael Downing on Feb 26, 2014 13:02:35 GMT -5
www.csmonitor.com/USA/USA-Update/2014/0221/California-in-six-easy-pieces-A-bid-to-let-voters-decide.-videoCalifornia in six easy pieces? A bid to let voters decide.Billionaire Tim Draper wants to redraw the map of California. His solution? Divide the Golden State into six more-manageable states. “California as it is is ungovernable,” Mr. Draper told ABC News on Wednesday. “It is more and more difficult for Sacramento [the capital] to keep up with the social issues from the various regions of California. With six Californias, people will be closer to their state governments, and states can get a refresh." With 38 million residents, California is America’s most populous state. The state economy rivals that of Italy and the Russian Federation. The California Attorney General’s office gave Draper the green light, Tuesday, to begin collecting the 807,615 signatures needed to include the Six Californias initiative on the November ballot. While the idea may seem far-fetched, Draper’s vast financial resources and apparent commitment to applying them to this initiative could help to propel his proposal to the ballot. He has said that if he is not able to obtain enough signatures by the July deadline, he will continue to strive for a 2016 ballot question. However, even if Californians prove willing to divvy up the state, Congress would also have to sign off on the measure and the addition of 10 new seats in the Senate, as outlined in Article IV of the US Constitution.
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