Court Upholds Right to Vote on $28 Billion Bailout; Utility Companies' Lawsuit Deemed Frivolous by Court of Appeals.SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 2, 1998--The California State Court of Appeals today gave a major boost to the Californians against Utility Taxes (CUT) initiative -- and the public's right to vote on legally qualified initiatives. The Sacramento Court rejected a frivolous Of minimal importance; legally worthless. A frivolous suit is one without any legal merit. In some cases, such an action might be brought in bad faith for the purpose of harrassing the defendant. lawsuit brought by utility companies to keep the CUT initiative off of the November 1998 ballot. With this ruling, consumer advocates have jumped the last hurdle to the ballot. "It is appropriate that the Court pulled the plug on this outrageous attempt to stymie sty·mie also sty·my tr.v. sty·mied , sty·mie·ing also sty·my·ing , sty·mies To thwart; stump: a problem in thermodynamics that stymied half the class. n. 1. the democratic process on the Fourth of July Fourth of July, Independence Day, or July Fourth, U.S. holiday, commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Celebration of it began during the American Revolution. weekend," said initiative proponent One who offers or proposes. A proponent is a person who comes forward with an a item or an idea. A proponent supports an issue or advocates a cause, such as a proponent of a will. PROPONENT, eccl. law. Harvey Rosenfield. "The utility companies have shown that they are desperate to keep the utility bailout bailout The financial rescue of a faltering business or other organization. Government guarantees for loans made to Chrysler Corporation constituted a bailout. out of the hands of voters. The Court has made a strong statement for both this initiative and the people's right to use the initiative process when the special interests ramrod bad legislation through Sacramento." The grassroots campaign to put the initiative on the ballot wasled by members of The Oaks Project, a group of volunteers founded by consumer advocate Ralph Nader  This page is currently protected from editing until (UTC) or until disputes have been resolved. . Making this a real David-versus-Goliath battle,
these Oaks Project volunteers will organize the grassroots campaign to
pass the initiative in November.
The CUT initiative will repeal the bailout tax which began appearing on California electric bills in January of this year. By implementing a true free market-based system, the initiative will save residential and small business consumers at least 20 percent on their utility bills.
CONTACT: Californians against Utility Taxes
Harvey Rosenfield, 310/392-0522
Nettie Hoge or Mindy Spatt, 415/929-8876
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