#NNPA BlackPress

Groups Aim to Shoot Down Rule That Would Let Lawmakers Vote When Absent

Published

6 years ago

August 5, 2020

Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

Assemblymember Autumn Burke ( D- Los Angeles) is shown wearing a face mask on the floor of the California State Assembly chambers on June 8, 2020. Antonio Ray Harvey photo.

Lobbying firms, public interest advocates and some California constitutionalists are concerned about what would happen if the Legislature approves a rule that would allow lawmakers to vote in their absence.

They are also urging Californians to vote ‘no’ on a similar measure that might make it to the November ballot as a proposition.

“It has been widely reported that the Assembly is going to consider a ‘rule’ allowing ‘proxy voting’ on the Floor,” wrote Thomas W. Hiltachk, the attorney for the Institute of Governmental Advocates (IGA) in a letter to Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) and Diane Boyer-Vine, the legislative counsel at the State Capitol. The IGA is a non-partisan organization that represents professional lobbyists and lobbying firms in Sacramento.

“The proposed rule is clearly unconstitutional and threatens the legality of any bill passed using proxy votes,” Hiltachk’s letter continued. “The Legislature cannot now by rule, [do] that what can only be achieved by amending the Constitution.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how people in California live and transact business in almost every aspect of life – from personal activities like grocery shopping and dining out to social and civic duties like voting and serving on juries.

It is no different for the Legislature.

“Given a spike in COVID-19 cases across the state, the Assembly is obliged to pursue safety with more stringent measures,” Speaker Rendon said in a statement explaining the rationale of allowing members to vote when they are not present for a vote. “As a result, we will implement very limited proxy voting for floor sessions to allow our most vulnerable members to participate without being physically present on the Assembly floor.”

When state lawmakers returned to Sacramento on July 27 from an extended, two-week recess, Assembly Majority Floor Leader Ian Calderon (D-Whitter) introduced House Resolution 100 (H.R. 100).

If the proposition makes it to the November ballot, and if voters approve it — the measure would allow California legislators, from a distance and without physical contact, vote in a legislative proceeding — or to vote by proxy in a legislative proceeding. The vote will have to be permitted by the Assembly or Senate in the event of a state of emergency declared by the governor or the President of the United States.

The measure was put into action after California Black Legislative Caucus (CBLC) member and Assemblywoman Autumn Burke (D-Inglewood) contracted COVID-19 in June.

Burke said in a Twitter post at the time that she had “mask-to-mask” exposure to COVID-19 on June 26 and was tested for coronavirus on the 4th of July. She was present on the Assembly floor on June 10, she said when she voted in favor of allowing a measure to be placed on the ballot that could reverse Prop. 209, a 24-year-old law that bans Affirmative Action in the state.

Burke, 46, who was elected to represent California’s 62nd Assembly District in 2014, went into quarantine with her 6-year-old daughter.

“I was shocked, disappointed, and heartbroken,” Burke said after she learned she tested positive for coronavirus. “It’s been a tough journey. For us, my daughter and I were symptom-free. So, (it was) much less for us about actually having it. But the heartbreaking feeling that you will feel is when you know that you have affected somebody, put their life in jeopardy, will destroy you.”

The main focus of H.R. 100 is to have the California State Assembly adopt a rule to allow proxy voting during the COVID‑19 state of emergency. Like Burke, the pandemic has affected other members of the Legislature and staff.

But even with the risks, some advocates say the process of making laws is too important to not follow standard procedures.

“We know there’s a crisis, but we have to hold people voting on legislation that will impact all of our lives accountable,” said Salena Pryor, founder of the Black Small Business Association. “One of the dangers of rewriting the voting rules is that you shake up the entire process and we have no guarantee that the public will have a chance to give our input and let our elected officials know how we feel about the legislation.”

HR 100 first was introduced into the California State Legislature as Assembly Constitutional Amendment 25 (ACA 25) on May 21. The Assembly voted 60 to 13 to pass ACA 25 on June 10. The California State Senate did not vote on ACA 25 before the deadline on June 25 or the extended deadline of July 1, 2020.

Then, on June 26, the Assembly voted 47 to 16 to pass Senate Bill (SB) 300. SB 300 allows for more time to place ACA 25 and two other constitutional amendments on the ballot for Nov. 3. On June 29, the Senate voted 29 to 8 to pass SB 300 and Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed SB 300 into law the following day.

Hiltachk insists that proxy voting is unconstitutional, arguing that legislators have a duty to make the sacrifice to vote in person even if there is danger involved.

“Many Californians have been classified as ‘essential’ workers. They show up to work every day, many caring for the sick, disabled, aged, or infirmed. Many work to keep our communities safe and others work to keep the engine of the State’s necessary economy running. In our view, Members of the Legislature are also ‘essential,’ and adequate safeguards can be put in place to protect all of us,” he wrote.

Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

Posts by Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

Up Next

Marin Teachers, Educators Cautious About Plans to Reopen Schools

Don't Miss

Oakland Unified Preps for Full Distance Learning

Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

Click to comment

#NNPA BlackPress

Smooth Ride! Car Suspension & Comfort Tested #shorts

Smooth suspension meets surprisingly spacious legroom. Experience true comfort on any road!

Published

1 month ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

Car suspension test demonstrating a smooth ride, comfort features, and handling on various terrains.

Experience the difference smooth suspension makes on rough streets. Check out the surprisingly good second-row legroom – test it yourself for true comfort.

Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/l9Z571za5Gc

#AutoNetwork

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

#NNPA BlackPress

61 years since Selma, Houston leaders say the bridge remains to be crossed

61 years after Selma, Houston leaders say the fight for equality continues. The issues that sparked the marches still impact Black Americans today.

Published

1 month ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

Houston leaders discuss the ongoing struggle for civil rights 61 years after Selma, emphasizing the need for continued action.

It has been 61 years since the Selma marches. But political leaders in Houston say that the issues protesters were marching for still plague the lives of Black Americans.

Visit Our Website

Home – updated

Read more stories by our team
https://defendernetwork.com/category/news/opinion/

Sign-up for the Top 5 newsletter

Defender Newsletters

Donate/ Support Our Work

Contribute to the Defender Network

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

#NNPA BlackPress

Here is what you need to know about finding unique white elephant gift ideas that everyone wants to steal

The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition. The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half […]

Published

1 month ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition.

The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half a second, and suddenly everyone wants the same gift. That is the sweet spot. A great white elephant pick should make people laugh, lean in, and start plotting their next steal before the turn is even over.

Should a White Elephant Gift Be Funny or Useful?

A white elephant gift can be funny or useful, but the strongest choices usually give people a reason to laugh and a reason to keep the item. A practical gift with an odd design, unexpected feature, or playful theme can get a reaction without becoming something the recipient immediately wants to give away.

The right balance depends on the group. Close friends and family members may enjoy a ridiculous gag gift because they already understand one another’s sense of humor.

A workplace exchange, neighborhood party, or mixed-age gathering usually calls for something with broader appeal. In those settings, humor works better when it is built into an item people could still use afterward.

It also helps to think about how quickly the gift will make sense once it is opened. A strangely shaped kitchen tool, oversized mug, quirky desk accessory, or unexpectedly fancy everyday item can create an immediate reaction. Guests understand the joke right away, while the item still has enough practical value to attract a steal.

Pure gag gifts can be harder to pull off. Something that exists only for the punchline may get a big laugh during the reveal and then sit untouched for the rest of the game. If the goal is to bring one of the gifts everyone keeps fighting over, usefulness gives the joke staying power.

Memorable Present Ideas: Creating Inside Joke Gifts

Inside joke gifts can make a white elephant exchange feel much more personal, especially when most of the group shares the same stories. The trick is choosing a reference that people will recognize quickly instead of building the entire joke around something only two guests understand.

You can turn a memorable vacation mishap, office catchphrase, family story, or long-running group joke into the theme of the gift. A personalized comic book can work especially well when it turns familiar people or a ridiculous shared moment into part of the story.

Think carefully about who the joke involves before ordering anything permanent. The gift should make the person feel included in the fun, not singled out for the wrong reason.

Can You Bring Something You Already Own?

Holiday gift exchanges can be a good place to re-gift something you never used, especially if it is unopened and clean.

The following can all work if they still look presentable:

A duplicate kitchen gadget
An untouched game
A decorative item
A sealed gift set
An unopened candle
A new travel accessory

The goal is to give the item a second chance, not use the exchange as an excuse to clear out damaged or unwanted clutter.

Take a close look at the packaging before wrapping it. Faded boxes, missing pieces, visible wear, or anything that looks obviously used can make the gift feel careless.

Wrapping Budget-Friendly Gifts

Wrapping can make gifts more entertaining before anyone even knows what’s inside.

Misdirection works especially well for fun party games. Put a small gift inside a much larger box. Use packaging from an unrelated household item.

Add harmless weight so guests cannot guess what they are holding. The reveal becomes part of the joke without changing the gift itself.

You can also lean into the theme of the exchange. Bright paper, oversized bows, reusable bags, or deliberately over-the-top wrapping can make an ordinary item feel more memorable. If the gift itself is already funny, simple wrapping may work better so the surprise stays hidden until the last second.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Picking Last an Advantage in White Elephant?

Picking last can be an advantage because you get to see almost every gift before making your move. Instead of choosing blindly from the remaining wrapped presents, you can steal something that has already caught your attention if the rules still allow it.

That advantage depends on the house rules. Some games limit how many times a gift can be stolen.

Others lock an item once it reaches a certain number of steals. If the most popular gifts are already unavailable, the final player may have fewer strong options than expected.

The first player can also get another turn at the end in some versions of the game. That rule can balance things out, since the person who started with the least information may get one final chance to steal.

How Do You Plan White Elephant for a Large Group?

For a large white elephant exchange, set a firm spending limit and establish the stealing rules in advance.

Create a clear turn order before the game begins. Drawing numbers as guests arrive can save time once everyone is ready to start.

Keep the number of steals per gift limited so the game does not drag on. It also helps to have one person track which creative holiday presents have been stolen and when they are locked, especially if dozens of people are participating.

Can You Play White Elephant Virtually?

A virtual white elephant exchange can work over a video call, with one person keeping track of the turn order and each steal. Guests can either mail physical gifts ahead of time or use digital gifts that can be delivered once the game ends.

Set the spending limit and stealing rules before everyone joins. It also helps to decide how gifts will be revealed and who is responsible for sending each one afterward so the exchange does not become confusing.