CA: Bipartisan compromises an option, if time allows

San Diego Union-Tribune ^ | May 7, 2005 | Ed Mendel

[calcowgirl]

SACRAMENTO – Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and public employee unions allied with Democrats began filing signatures yesterday for the last of their initiatives, moving the state closer to a major ballot war in November.

The governor said this week that he does not have to make a decision about calling a special election for his proposals until about June 13, leaving time to negotiate compromises.

"So there is plenty of time to work that out," Schwarzenegger said Wednesday.

If the required number of signatures are submitted, the governor's proposed state spending limit and the union-backed initiatives to re-regulate electricity and provide cheaper prescription drugs would be on the ballot.

The governor also backs initiatives to take authority to draw legislative and congressional districts away from the Legislature, and make teachers wait longer for tenure.

But it still would be possible to negotiate bipartisan compromises that the Legislature could place on the ballot, which both sides could urge voters to approve while rejecting the initiatives.

This happened last year when the lawmakers placed a compromise on local-government funding on the ballot, Proposition 1A, and successfully urged voters to reject an initiative placed on the ballot by cities and counties.

The governor must call a special election by about June 13 if he wants the vote on the initiatives to be held Nov. 8, when 27 counties and 40 cities are already scheduled to hold local elections.

If he does call a special election, negotiations could continue into August, when the deadline for printing a supplemental ballot pamphlet could make it impossible to place legislative compromises before voters in November. If he doesn't, initiatives that qualify would be on the June 2006 ballot.

There are few signs so far that a sweeping compromise is possible, particularly on the centerpiece of the governor's proposals: a limit on state spending that also allows the governor to make midyear spending cuts.

By waiting until yesterday and early next week to turn in signatures for their initiatives, both sides are testing the ability of county registrars to use random-sample tallies to qualify the measures in time for a Nov. 8 ballot.

Initiative backers said counties have done the job in similar time in the past.

Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, D-Los Angeles, warned on Wednesday that the governor's pursuit of initiatives is leading the state into "political chaos." When told of the remark later, Schwarzenegger disagreed.

"Everyone should submit what they want to submit," the governor said. "This is true democracy. And then let the people decide if they want those kinds of things."

Some high-profile potential ballot measures won't make the cut. The business-led group said signatures for the governor's initiative to switch teachers to a merit-pay system will not be submitted for at least two or three more weeks, probably too late for a November election.

Schwarzenegger earlier dropped an overhaul of state and local government pensions, which opponents said would end death and disability benefits for police and firefighters. He wants to place a revamped pension plan on the ballot next year.

The unions shelved their signatures for a "Car Buyer's Bill of Rights" after car dealers agreed to compromise legislation. Whether Schwarzenegger will sign or veto the bill is not clear.

Union-backed initiatives to re-regulate electricity and provide cheaper prescription drugs are similar to legislation Schwarzenegger vetoed last year. An attempt to negotiate a compromise with the drug industry, which has its own initiative, was said to have stalled.

Other initiatives aimed at the November ballot would require government unions to get permission from members to use dues for political purposes and require parents to be notified in advance of minors seeking abortions.

Unions are gathering signatures for two more initiatives, not expected to qualify for a November ballot, that would require corporations to get shareholder permission for campaign contributions and raise business property taxes to boost school funding.

[Logical me]

It's a shame that so much time is wasted on initiatives to get what is needed to be done. At least Arnold is taking away from the Democrats their perks and trying to get California back on a sensible track. If these initiatives get approved, we the people will benefit. All the Democrats have been doing is buying votes by using giveaways.

[NormsRevenge]

How do you compromise with a boa constrictor?

Let him give you a big hug first.

Any belief that the c'Rats can be worked with is ludicrous.