Court Temporarily Blocks Change In California Recall Rules

A California judge has put on hold a new state law that could delay a recall election of Senator Josh Newman (D-Fullerton).

The judge’s stay puts Newman back on track to face a recall election in November, at least as the court considers the suit.

Newman’s upset win last year gave Democrats a supermajority in the state Senate. Republicans began collecting signatures for a recall after he voted for an increase to the gas tax.

In June, Democrats passed a law that creates a new waiting period and cost calculation before a recall can occur. The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association says in a lawsuit it could cause up to a year delay before the election is held.

The association also argues the Legislature improperly passed the changes—by packaging them with other, unrelated measures, including money for veterans’ cemeteries. The stay alludes to that argument.

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(AP) - A California appellate court is putting on hold a law aimed at delaying a recall election targeting Democratic Orange County Sen. Josh Newman.

The 3rd District Court of Appeal in Sacramento ruled Monday that the law should not be enforced while judges determine whether it's legal.

Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and several activists filed suit last month saying Democratic legislators violated the California constitution when they changed the state's recall election law to draw out the process for removing lawmakers from office.

The association, the California Republican Party and others are looking to remove Newman from office over his vote for a gas tax increase earlier this year.

They challenged new recall rules that give people time to rescind their signature from recall petitions. Democrats say some signers were misled.