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LAT: A California constitutional convention for all
LA Times ^ | 8/23/09 | Editorial

Posted on 08/23/2009 12:38:11 PM PDT by NormsRevenge

It was a town hall, certainly, but without the sense of chaos, the hint of danger, that we've come to associate with the words "town hall" in recent weeks. No gun-toting patriots, no dark portents of tyranny. No energy, in fact, at least not at the start of things. It was a blazing July morning, a Saturday, and several hundred people were clustered around tables in a subterranean conference room at USC. They were talking about overthrowing the government, and trying to stay awake. It was taking awhile for the coffee to kick in.

...

"A small group of extremists can hold the government hostage," he said. Wild applause. "I've always believed that term limits are a function of demagoguery." Cheers. "Proposition 13 has been a sacred cow. But you know, it's time to look at Proposition 13." It brought the house down, in a gentle sort of way.

The speaker was Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, but it could have been almost any featured guest at any of the town halls conducted across the state by Repair California, the coalition of groups building support for a citizens' convention to scrap and replace the state's Constitution. In this forum, and one the previous night in Santa Monica and at earlier meetings in the Bay Area, most in the crowd were on the same page about what ails California and what has to go: the two-thirds supermajority to adopt a budget, the same supermajority to pass a tax, term limits, rampant special-interest ballot initiatives, Proposition 13, Proposition 8 -- and if you haven't guessed the rest, simply pore over several years' worth of Los Angeles Times editorials. This page has long espoused the reform agenda championed by good-government groups and just-left-of-center editorialists and reformers.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: california; constitutional; convention; prop13; townhalls; villaraigosa

1 posted on 08/23/2009 12:38:11 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
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To: NormsRevenge

Any CC would be packed with liberals. Be afraid, very afraid.


2 posted on 08/23/2009 12:42:17 PM PDT by Uncle Hal
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To: NormsRevenge

But you know, it’s time to look at Proposition 13.”

No, it’s time to look at the mass Exodus of taxpayers out of California.


3 posted on 08/23/2009 12:42:57 PM PDT by Huskrrrr
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To: NormsRevenge

It would be suicide to repeal Prop 13.


4 posted on 08/23/2009 12:43:59 PM PDT by null and void (We are now in day 214 of our national holiday from reality. - 0bama really isn't one of US.)
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To: NormsRevenge

An overwhelming portion of California democrats are convinced the only thing holding back the CA economy - is the fact it’s too difficult to raise taxes.

It’s beyond amazing.

House prices tanking - and now the government is hungry. 5 minutes after Arnold is out of office (unless it’s Meg) liberals will go after Prop 13, and go hog-wild with new taxes.

It seems.


5 posted on 08/23/2009 12:46:11 PM PDT by Cringing Negativism Network (PALIN / HANNITY 2012.)
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To: NormsRevenge

A constitutional convention would be the end of the 2/3 vote now necessary to raise taxes in california. Not to mention Prop. 13.


6 posted on 08/23/2009 12:47:11 PM PDT by TaxPayer2000 (The United States shall guarantee to every state in this union a republican form of government,)
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To: NormsRevenge
This page has long espoused the reform agenda championed by good-government groups and just-left-of-center editorialists and reformers.

[Chortle]

7 posted on 08/23/2009 12:52:50 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (Health Care Reform has met the DEATH Panel.)
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To: NormsRevenge

8 posted on 08/23/2009 12:58:42 PM PDT by eclecticEel (The Most High rules in the kingdom of men ... and sets over it the basest of men.)
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To: NormsRevenge

The supermajority rule is probably the only reason California was able to keep going as long as it did.


9 posted on 08/23/2009 1:01:41 PM PDT by skr (May God confound the enemy)
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To: Jeff Chandler

That was a good one,, had to make sure and include that little admission.


10 posted on 08/23/2009 1:01:46 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed .. Monthly Donor Onboard)
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To: NormsRevenge

This forum has already discredited this. A constitutional convention can pass whatever it wants ... but the changes still have to be ratified by 3/4 (38) of the states. At most, Obama would get twelve.


11 posted on 08/23/2009 1:02:54 PM PDT by pabianice
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To: NormsRevenge

LAT throws a little temper tantrum.


12 posted on 08/23/2009 1:16:02 PM PDT by reagandemocrat
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To: pabianice

The article is about a CA state constitutional convention.


13 posted on 08/23/2009 1:18:25 PM PDT by Jacquerie (It is normally best to read the article before posting comments.)
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To: NormsRevenge

Repeal Prop 13??!! Why of course! It’s about time politicians and their thug contributors make it clear that taxpayers have NO BUSINESS making decisions about how they are governed!! After all, who in hell do the voters think they are!!


14 posted on 08/23/2009 1:24:43 PM PDT by Oldpuppymax (AGENDA OF THE LEFT EXPOSED)
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To: Cringing Negativism Network

Even with the real estate meltdown, think of the billions, even trillions, in untaxed value sitting out there just waiting to be ripped off! Why, it boggles the mind!


15 posted on 08/23/2009 1:39:45 PM PDT by sailor4321
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To: NormsRevenge

SPLIT THE STATE IN TWO! Give the liberals what they want. Free reign in their own liberal wonderland on the conditions they will be deported if they attempt to enter the conservative half.


16 posted on 08/23/2009 3:14:06 PM PDT by Caipirabob (Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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