Presidential election at stake if Republicans change way CA votes counted
By Lagan Siebert
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 8/17/07 — With the presidential election outcome at stake, wealthy producer Steve Bing (“Get Carter,” upcoming Angelina Jolie–starrer “Beowulf”), has joined Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and other California Democrats to block a Republican effort to split California’s electoral votes.
California’s 55 electoral votes have been a powerful boon for Democratic candidates who have historically received the votes. California, which has the most electoral votes in the country, grants them all to the statewide winner, like most other states.
In Sacramento a group called Californians for Equal Representation has submitted a ballot initiative to state Attorney General Jerry Brown that would split California’s electoral vote in the 2008 presidential election. The change could have a drastic effect on the outcome of the presidential election.
The Proposal would give one electoral vote to the winning candidate in each of the 53 congressional districts, while the statewide winner would get an additional two. Of California’s 53 districts, 34 are represented by Democrats and 19 by Republicans in the House of Representatives.
“If we want to change the way we elect the president, we should go to a direct national popular vote — where it would be guaranteed that the presidential candidate who receives the most votes in all 50 states will win the presidency,” said California Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein in a joint statement.
Bing has joined the advisory committee for the newly created Californians for Fair Election Reform, which will oppose the electoral reform. Bing, the writer of “Kangaroo Jack” and one of the wealthiest Angelinos with a $900 million worth, will council with other Californians including Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, CA Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and CA Senate President Don Perata to counter the Republican effort to grab a piece of California’s electoral pie.
Bing is also the father to children with Elizabeth Hurley and Kirk Kerkorian’s ex-wife Lisa Bonder.
