Top CA Officials Staying Out Of Prop 60 Controversy

SACRAMENTO, Calif.—According to a survey by The Sacramento Bee of California's top seven government officials, though each weighed in on several of the initiatives that will appear on the November presidential ballot, none were willing to give his/her position on the one most affecting the adult entertainment industry: Prop 60, the so-called "California Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry Act," which would allow any citizen to file a lawsuit against any performer perceived as not using a condom in a hardcore video if Cal/OSHA declines to do so itself. "It's the beginning of July, so there is still a lot of time for officials to take positions," noted Eric Paul Leue, chair of Californians Against Worker Harassment and Executive Director of Free Speech Coalition. "It is insightful that no one has decided to support the initiative. It's just one person's initiative, supported by no one else, opposed by many." The politicians surveyed included Gov. Jerry Brown, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, Secretary of State Alex Padilla, Controller Betty Yee, Treasurer John Chiang and Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. The paper also noted that Attorney General Kamala Harris (who's running for U.S. Senate) "despite her policy of not taking positions on ballot measures, has in the past articulated positions on policy subjects," which the paper summarized. The two issues that are likely to be of interest to the adult entertainment community that did draw comments include Prop 59, which would put California on record as opposing the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission, which allows the rich and corporations to donate unlimited funds to politicians' election/reelection campaigns, and Prop 64, which would legalize the sale and private consumption of marijuana for those over 21 years of age. On those two issues, Brown has so far taken no position on either; Newsom supports both; and Padilla, Yee, Chiang and Jones support Prop 59 and take no position yet on 64. Based on Harris' prior comments, the SacBee concludes that she would suppport both 59 and 64. As to Prop 60, however, all of the major political parties—Democratic, Republican and Libertarian—have all gone on record as opposing the measure, as have more than a dozen other public service organizations. Pictured: Prop 60 proponent Michael Weinstein's empty chair at the APAC press conference. (Photo courtesy of Californians Against Worker Harassment.)