There are a multitude of problems with Prop 13. You won’t have to read this site very long to learn my opinion on that 1978 initiative. However, one of the long-term consequences of the measure, that perhaps was not really envisioned, has been away from all accountability on behalf of elected leaders.
Republicans simply throw their hands up in the air in public, saying the Democrats control the legislature. Meanwhile, in private, they are making up wish lists of stuff they want. For their part, the Democrats say that they can’t act because of the supermajority rules. Now, that might be reduced with the new majority vote budget measure, but when we need to raise revenue, that doesn’t really matter all that much. In the end, everybody has an excuse for why stuff doesn’t happen.
But, that is really a problematic situation. And instead of decisive leadership, we get elected officials who defer to the people, because they/we are the only legislative body that doesn’t need a supermajority. In his column today, George Skelton decries this notion that somehow our elected leaders aren’t up to the task of solving our budget issues.
The governor, with legislative help, has the power to stop the bleeding and the weeping. Too bad he’s trying to abdicate it to voters.
Despite what he says, Brown is big enough for the job and capable of making the hard choices. And that’s what “we the people” expect. (LA Times)
Now, while saying this, he also blames unions for not compromising on the GOP demands and says there are a few “sensible” Republicans willing to bargain for other reforms. Now, as I mentioned earlier today, that’s not what the budget process is for. It’s not designed to reform CEQA or our greenhouse gas pollution regulations, it should be about the budget.
Fortunately, Skelton brought in legal counsel to explain the sitch, UC-Irvine School of Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky:
“We elect representatives to make the laws,” (Chemerinsky) said. “It should be their responsibility to act in the best interests of the voters. If the voters don’t like what they do, they can be voted out of office.”
“It is unnecessary and undesirable to go to the voters,” added Chemerinsky, who worries particularly about a small turnout in a special election and potentially poor prospects for passage of the tax extension.
“The idea of cutting another $12 billion would be truly devastating to the state of California. And it’s the responsibility of the governor and Legislature to protect us from that.”
It is a broken system, and one where nobody takes responsibility. I don’t know how that changes anything in the short term. But in the long-term can we really continue to have these same anti-democratic fights every year?
When Prop. 13 was passed by the voters, Brown decided to bail the people out with the cusion that then existed in the state treasury. He should have let everyone suffer and, eventually, beg to do away with Prop. 13. As it is, he set a precedent that has continued until now of saving the people from themselves. It’s about time that Prop. 13 be shown up for what it is. Just figure out a way to blame the Republicans and let the chips fall.
Any hope of people power making it happen?
Can the unions dog the Rs, like they dogged Schwarzenegger?
How can the Gov and the legislative Dems make it happen? Isn’t a 2/3rds vote required to pass money bills?
I agree with the statement:
” that’s not what the budget process is for. It’s not designed to reform CEQA or our greenhouse gas pollution regulations, it should be about the budget.”
BUt on the flip side thats exactly what the budget HAS been for decades. Even with line-item veto it still has been a hodge podge of pet projects – including perks for public employees and sibsidies for green projects. Granted those aren’t entirely responsible for the budget shortfall but for months the Dems have been saying the GOP is the party of NO and not providing a solution. And not that they offer what they’ll do to be part of the solution and people say its a list of demands. Be careful what you ask for.
On another note, I’d be real curious if we could somehow have a secret budget ballot in the legislature. I wonder if it would pass if the special interests on both sides couldnt lean on legislators for their votes. I know, I know there are serious implications for democracy if that set a trend but I wonder if union/pension reform and tax/budget issues would really pass in a secret ballot situation.
Unfortunately, I think budget decisions should not be up to the voters for a different reason.
We don’t have a very good track record.
You could argue the same is true of the Assembly, and I would have to agree with you. But most voters don’t have the knowledge or interest to actually understand the issues. So we’re vulnerable to propaganda and distorted media reporting. And we’ve made some bad decisions that the Assembly has had to try to deal with.
Because of term limits, elected officials have a similar problem. They have a relatively short tenure to come up to speed on a lot of really complex issues. Lobbyist and Sacramento staffers know them better. But none of us voted for any of those folks. Most of us will never know their names or talk to them. So I’m a bit uncomfortable having them make these decisions–especially the lobbyists!
Still, I stand by my reason. We were sold a bill of goods with proposition 13. And that wasn’t the last time, just one of the more obvious ones. I don’t trust us.
Unfortunately, I think budget decisions should not be up to the voters for a different reason.
We don’t have a very good track record.
You could argue the same is true of the Assembly, and I would have to agree with you. But most voters don’t have the knowledge or interest to actually understand the issues. So we’re vulnerable to propaganda and distorted media reporting. And we’ve made some bad decisions that the Assembly has had to try to deal with.
Because of term limits, elected officials have a similar problem. They have a relatively short tenure to come up to speed on a lot of really complex issues. Lobbyist and Sacramento staffers know them better. But none of us voted for any of those folks. Most of us will never know their names or talk to them. So I’m a bit uncomfortable having them make these decisions–especially the lobbyists!
Still, I stand by my reason. We were sold a bill of goods with proposition 13. And that wasn’t the last time, just one of the more obvious ones. I don’t trust us not to do it again. That said, I trust the Republicans even less. Sigh!