Court to Hear Challenge to Initiative That Would Cut Welfare

SACRAMENTO — A state appellate court agreed Thursday to hold hearings on a lawsuit aimed at disqualifying Gov. Pete Wilson’s welfare cut initiative from the November ballot.

The 3rd District Court of Appeal gave Wilson until May 26 to file written arguments opposing the California Common Cause lawsuit, which contends that Wilson’s proposal violates the constitutional provision that ballot measures be restricted to a single subject.

The public interest lobbying group contends in its suit that by proposing both welfare cuts and changes in legislative deadlines and other rules for enacting a state budget, the Wilson measure violates the single-subject rule. Wilson contends that the issues are related because state budgeting procedures cannot be reformed without welfare reforms.