Budget

Undo the 2/3 Rule

X-Posted @ BearFlagBlue

For the last couple of months, Ellis Goldberg, President of the Tri-Valley Dems and Sally Sweetser, of the Diablo Valley Dems, have been working their butts off to draft a ballot measure that would repeal the 2/3rds vote requirement in passing a budget. While, there have been many arguments back and forth about just how we approach this repeal, the solution that I and most of the progressive community have come to support, and which Ellis has been promoting from the outset, is one in which the law would be changed to require a 50%+1 simple majority vote to both pass a budget and raise additional revenues.

Well, Ellis and his crew can only do so much, and now they are asking for our help in pushing this proposition forward.

To qualify a ballot measure that will undo the 2/3 requirement to pass the budget and deal with revenue legislation, a petition campaign is being launched to put the 2/3 rule issue on the ballot in mid-2010.  Almost 700,000 signatures on petitions will be required before the initiative can be put on the ballot.  Democratic clubs, PTAs, labor unions and those affected by the budget crisis are asked to help get those signatures. Your help is needed

In support of the TriValley Democratic Club, the Diablo Valley Democratic Club, and the San Ramon Valley Democratic Club…the Contra Costa County Central Committee has passed the following resolution

SUPPORT FOR SIMPLE MAJORITY RULES FOR BUDGET AND REVENUE

WHEREAS, the state of California requires a 2/3’s vote of the legislature to pass all budget and revenue related legislation which results in unequal representation with NO votes counting twice as much as YES votes;  

WHEREAS, this has resulted in rule by a minority of the legislature that has consistently blocked the will of the majority of the citizens of the state of California, delayed annual enactment of budget and revenue related legislation beyond the June 15th deadline, reduced the credit rating of the state, and forced the state to rely on borrowing which burdens future generations of California citizens;

WHEREAS, the 2/3’s rule has resulted in a fiscal catastrophe for the state of California and has caused undue harm to the health and welfare of its citizens;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the __________________________  supports amending the constitution of the state of California to allow a simple majority of the Legislature to pass both budget and revenue related legislation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the ____________________________  will distribute copies of this resolution to the California Senate and Assembly, California County Democratic Central Committees, as well as other Democratic clubs, and work to support legislation that will overturn the 2/3’s vote requirement.

Here are some things that you can do to help

  • Ask your club or organization to pass the resolution above.
  • Delegates PLEASE attend the Resolutions Committee meeting Friday April 24 at 3 PM in the Sacramento Convention Center to make sure the resolution gets voted on and passed by the full convention.
  • Propose the resolution to your county central committee.
  • Encourage delegates to vote for it.  Petition for delegates signatures will be presented to the Resolutions Committee.
  • Ask PTAs, labor unions and other sympathetic organization to pass the resolution.
  • Get ready for a major petition drive by organizing tabling, precinct walking and promotional activities