Posted on 08/15/2009 12:25:26 PM PDT by Steelfish
Group airs proposals for California government overhaul
By Jack Chang
Aug. 15, 2009
The bipartisan government reform group California Forward revealed details Friday about a package of proposals it plans to place on next year's ballot to overhaul state government and, the group hopes, break paralyzing legislative gridlock.
The package includes ideas catering to both Democrats and Republicans, a combination that should inspire more cooperation among legislators than Californians have so far seen, said Robert Hertzberg, the group's co-chairman and a former Democratic speaker of the state Assembly.
The group's other co-chairman is Thomas V. McKernan, CEO of the Automobile Club of Southern California and former chairman of the California Business Roundtable.
"If you put it together as a package, it works," Hertzberg said about the proposals. "But if you pull one element out, it fails."
Those changes include:
• Adopt a two-year budget cycle.
• Require a simple majority vote in the Legislature to pass budgets rather than the current two-thirds vote required. Maintain a two-thirds requirement for tax increases.
• Demand that legislators identify funding sources for new programs.
• Give counties authority to distribute property tax revenue. Local governments would also have legal ownership of some funds.
• Allow cities, counties and school districts to raise funds for long-term purposes with just majority approval from voters. Voter-approved Proposition 218 requires that local taxes funding specific items be approved by at least two-thirds of voters.
• Allow state legislators to serve longer in one office – up to 12 years in the Assembly, state Senate or some combination of the two.
Hertzberg said he hoped the state Legislature would place the package on next year's ballot but was prepared to launch an initiative petition campaign.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
I would change one thing (so far). Any tax changes need to be voted on by the people of the State.
My reasoning for the above concerning taxes is because the State has proven that they cannot be trusted with our taxes.
Great idea! Lets hand a book full of pre-signed blank checks to the Marxists who are already driving business and the wealthy out of the state...
And this helps how? Bunch of smucks always trying to protect their power. I have a counter proposal. STOP SPENDING MONEY YOU DON'T HAVE
“Paralyzing legislative gridlock” is the only reason the state’s still somewhat afloat. Dumping the 2/3 requirement would hand a blank check to the Democrats, who regularly pass bills spending about twice the state’s revenue.
i’ve never had any use for the Automobile Club but now I HATE THEM!!!!
Its not the people’s fault that were elected, its the process. (sic)
They need to fire all of these people and if you keep sending dems to the capital this is what you get.
Best thing to do would be to break up the state into 7-8 states.
I am as surprised as you are about AA. I wonder what in it for them?
Let me guess, they’re calling it “reform”?
This will do nothing but make it worse
This “remove one thing and the plan fails” is typical extraterrestrial nonsense proffered by folks who think they are smarter than you. How about this: Change the color of your socks and the plan fails. Both statements make exactly the same amount of sense.
Losing the 2/3rds majority req’ment to raise taxes would be an utter disaster, a sure fire, direct, inescapable road to bankruptcy with the corrupt idiots we have in the CA legislature. It is the **ONLY** thing that has prevented outright insolvency to date. It is abundantly clear that the solutions to CA budget problems lie precisely NOT in any area that grants legislators INCREASED liberty to spend taxpayer money.
I also cannot support the every-two year budget. Because it will mean that these skunks can work their voodoo longer before being sniffed out. It will mean that the poor vendors who got snaked into taking CA IOUs for their products or services will have to wait potentially 1.5 years instead of .5 years for the state to make their scrip good.
Uh how about we go back to part time legislature and cut their salary and perks...
"The bipartisan government reform group California Forward..."
Yes, this outfit certainly sounds bipartisan. About as bipartisan as the DNC.
DOA - Dead on Arrival.
This is more BS from the left pols and the left leaning business establishment. Notice how they got the leftist AAA executive to front for this organization.
They would kill their mother to get rid of the requirement for a 2/3 vote of both houses to pass the annual budget. This is the only thing keeping the Dems from pushing through even more spending packages.
The voters of CA will not buy into this powergrab crap.
As I understand it, there will be a proposition making the rounds for signatures in order to be on the ballot that would return the CA legislature to a part-time basis. That is what is needed. Get these corrupt hacks out of Sacramento. Force them to pass a truly balanced budget on time. No balanced budget - no pay.
May 19, 2009 Remember 1A, 1B, 1C etc? the flim flam "solutions"?
The morons still think that was a fluke.
They must be living in a different reality if they think that wrapping it in a bigger pink bow will make it easier to swallow.
Without the 2/3 vote, we would currently be searching for a way OUT of total state bankupcy.
I suppose if people keep electing these functional imbeciles, it's only to be expected that they think they have the solutions.
They are the problem!
Permanent forfeiture of pay for failing to perform.
No budget on time? Permanent loss of pay, and expenses; with perhaps a fine on top of that forfeiture. The State legislature was never intended as a golden cage for welfare kings and queens with special privileges.
Constitutional amendment anyone? Bet you could get 400,000 signatures in a few months.
Sign me up.
Okay, replace it with a 3/4s vote needed, strict and short term limits, strict limits on lobby cash, a part time legislature with severely circumscribed powers outside of 2/3s voter approved referendums that would define it within narrow limits, and we can talk.
There's all you need to know about this proposal, right there.
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