For those who aren't familiar with CAGOP practices or for those lurkers who don't understand the traditional constitutional process in California under prevailing circumstances here is a primer.
A conservative executive typically submits a conservative budget to a liberal legislature. The legislature bloats the budget through simple majority vote and sends it back to the executive for approval. The executive vetoes the budget and sends it back to the legislature for override. The legislative majority is now forced to work with the minority to override the veto and reductions in spending are negotiated, gaining the approval of the executive.
During the last two budget cycles however, the executive negotiated with the legislative majority directly, delivered a bloated budget proposal and then approved the returned, even more bloated budget package without the assistance or consent of the legislative minority.
Contrary to the myths promoted in the reply, Prop 76 was an initiative designed to accomplish 3 things. Give the appearance of spending reductions, authorize more illegal borrowing and protect Prop 58 lenders from repercussions should the state go south financially. Prop 76 was opposed by both the left and the right in California and failed at the polls by the widest margin (38/62) of the four proposals promoted by the executive.
Just how was McClintock suckered into supporting it then ?
"Tom McClintock: This is Sen. Tom McClintock for Prop. 76. 76 is the Live Within Your Means Act - to control state spending, balance the budget without new taxes and stop borrowing from our kids. "
http://www.sacbee.com/static/richmedia/audio/politics/2005_prop76.ram
Yep. Prop 76 was all about borrowing--not spending. From the Los Angeles Times, October 24, 2005
Interviewed on public television's "California Connected" last week, Schwarzenegger said: "Look, we don't have enough money to build hospitals, … freeways, bridges. We need more energy. We need to make sure we have the cleanest environment…. We need more water, we need more of everything. And more affordable housing, which is the biggest problem of all."(snip)
But how does the state, facing a deficit projected at $6 billion next year, live within its means without raising taxes — while spending more to build things?
The governor must be a magician.
Actually, Schwarzenegger and his chief fiscal advisor, Tom Campbell, do offer answers for the money mystery. One answer is to borrow more with infrastructure bonds.
The Schwarzenegger administration is considering an ambitious bond program to fix freeway bottlenecks, improve access to cargo ports, shore up Delta levees, upgrade water facilities and quake-proof hospitals.
But the state first should get its cash flow in order, says Campbell, who's on leave as state finance director to promote Prop. 76. "We'd go to the market with a substantially better balance sheet and bond rating if 76 passes," he says. "That means lower interest."