California Democrats got dragged into changing Prop. 47 -- even though many still oppose it

That served only to split Democrats and anger Republicans who support the district attorneys’ initiative.

With time running out, leaders negotiated their final effort late on Sunday: a dueling ballot measure that’s slightly more narrow than the one they’re fighting.

If the Legislature passes it, voters will consider the initiative in November, alongside the district attorneys’ measure. If Democrats’ version of the initiative gets more votes, the opposing measure will be “null and void.”

Although the two initiatives both change Proposition 47, McGuire said the legislative version is necessary because he’s “worried about the draconian measure that has been advanced by the DAs.”

He highlighted a section that would increase penalties on those charged with shoplifting after previously being convicted of two or more theft-related offenses within three years.

“Petty theft with a prior in the DA’s measure is a lifetime lookback,” McGuire said. “If a kid steals a candy bar and is charged with petty theft with a prior, that could potentially be a future felony because it’s a lifetime lookback. Californians don’t want that.”

Moderate Democrats backed by district attorneys and law enforcement may find it hard to support the Legislature’s opposing initiative.

And lawmakers’ narrower initiative may still be too much for progressives who don’t want to see any increased penalties for theft and drug crimes.

Assemblyman Alex Lee, D-San Jose, who chairs the Legislative Progressive Caucus, said he is “concerned about a generational change to Proposition 47 and our criminal justice political landscape.”

“We have had literally months to defend, socialize and think about the retail theft package,” Lee said. “... Now we’re talking about a generational shift to public safety that we have to process in 72 hours. And from a process standpoint, from a heavy topic standpoint, it is far from ideal to do that.”

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