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Arnold Jumps Aboard The Prop. 93 Train

by: David Dayen

Mon Jan 14, 2008 at 19:12:26 PM PST


Well that's... interesting.

oftening his past opposition to changes to California's term-limits law, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is endorsing a February ballot measure that would allow many sitting lawmakers to run for office again this year rather than be forced to leave the Legislature.

Schwarzenegger, who as a candidate in 2003 supported California's existing term-limits law as a shield against "special interests" obtaining too much power, reversed himself in an essay released today that said the original law "went too far."

"Under the current system, our elected officials are not given the time they need to reach their full potential as public servants," Schwarzenegger wrote in an essay to be published in The Times on Tuesday. "Imagine what would happen if we told a big-city police chief or a sheriff he could stay in the job just long enough to start mastering it and then had to move on."

The op-ed announcing the endorsement is here, and it amusingly includes the line "It takes time to learn how to govern effectively."  You said it, Arnold, not me.  Also, considering you're in your fifth year, what's your excuse?

The No on 93 campaign is kind of freaking out about this, calling it the result of a "deal on healthcare."

Discuss.

David Dayen :: Arnold Jumps Aboard The Prop. 93 Train
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Well (0.00 / 0)
certainly the cynic in me thinks this has more to do with his relationship with Nunez than with his actual position on the issue itself. But how often am I cynical?

I proudly work to re-elect Barbara Boxer

prop 93 (0.00 / 0)
Some of my progressive friends have come out against Prop 93, arguing that because it is really designed to save the jobs of some current legislators, it must be flawed.  In my opinion that is a very short sighted way of looking at things, and it risks swamping the public policy baby with the self-interest bath water.  The argument in favor of Prop 93 is really very simple, to wit:

           Term limits bad

           Prop 93 weakens term limits.

           Therefore, Prop 93 good (despite the self interest of some who are responsible for it being on the ballot).  The bottom line is that it leaves us with better public policy than we have now.

Of course, if you support term limits - a non-democratic method of telling people who they can and can't vote for in my opinion - then I suppose you oppose Prop 93.  And we simply agree to disagree.  But if you oppose the concept of term limits, Prop 93 is a way to loosen their iron grip and allow legislators to gain sufficient experience and longevity in their job to be able to accomplish something.  For example, Loni Hancock, assembly member for the 14th AD, is termed out this year.  She is the legislative author of clean money (AB 583).  If we lose her fervor, knowledge and experience in working that legislation, how will it ever become law?  Sheila Kuehl is now termed out of the senate.  Who will fight for single payer health insurance?

With respect, I think for progressives it should be an easy decision.

mal burnstein
co-chair, progressive caucus, CDP


If a version were introduced (5.00 / 1)
that didn't have the grandfathering provisions that kept the current leadership in office, I'd vote for it in a heartbeat.  But the last thing I want to do is vote for term limits "reform" that just so happens to allow the currently term-limited leadership in office.

[ Parent ]
Mal (0.00 / 0)
Sheila isn't running next year regardless of the Prop. 93 outcome.  She wants to be LA County Supervisor and she wants to be closer to home.  And this is my point.  A change in term limits isn't necessarily going to bolt lawmakers in their seats for 12 years in a political environment accustomed to a lot of change.

[ Parent ]
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