Mar 30 2009
Budget reform and the propositions
The problem with the state legislature is that they won’t do their job. They are supposed to govern, to work as fiduciaries for the people who elected them. They need to be representatives, informed, and willing to do their jobs.
However, the state legislature never tackles the hard issues. Instead, they leave that to the ballot box.
The legislature doesn’t want to tackle water issues. They don’t want to decide on money to be spent, how to spend it, and where to store the water. Everyone there knows that we need more water storage. California has a population that has grown at a pace that has outstripped our water storage. Without a drastic change, there will not be water for all the things the population needs in less than 5 years. But what does the legislature do…..nothing. Instead they might try a bond, or something else at the ballot box through the initiative process.
The same thing is happening with budget reform. Instead of passing laws, or agreeing to various budgeting laws that are needed in order to reform the process, they are taking the fight to the ballot box. Both sides are reasonably sure that the measures won’t pass. Here’s why - The Democrats and Republicans tied a raise in taxes to 1A - the only proposition likely to have any impact on future budgeting. In order to vote for budget reform - a soft spending cap -you also have to vote to keep the sales tax increase for 3 more years.
Both sides knew that this measure would fail when they wrote it. The idea of a spending cap gave the Republicans cover for voting for the tax increases. However, no one was under any illusion that the measure will pass. Both sides knew that all sorts of interest groups will campaign against 1A.
However, the neglected to think of the people. Surely some people vote according to what they hear on TV and the radio, or what a well known group (like the CTA) tells them to do. But we all have free will, we can all vote how we want to.
This is a special election, so the turnout will be small. The various groups are counting on this. Only people who are really involved tend to turn out for special elections. Well, let us surprise everyone, let’s have a large turn out and pass 1A.
I am not for tax increases. I hate them. I think raising the sales tax was an irresponsible thing to do that allowed the legislature to avoid serious discussions about spending and taxing. However, I think that a spending cap is needed. Something is needed, and this is the best we are going to get. So let’s take it.
Vote yes on 1A.
