Photo from the Stadium
Invesco Field at Mile High, Obama DNC Convention Podium
Capitol Power: From Railroads to Unions
An item appeared in the Sacramento Bee yesterday that reminded me how far we have come from the days of Hiram Johnson and progressive reforms of the early 20th Century.
It was a story about how the all powerful prison guard’s union, CCPOA, just contributed $577,000 to Senate Pro Tem Don Perata’s political committee with the express purpose of defeating Proposition 11, the initiative on the November ballot to take control of legislative redistricting away from the Legislature. You can read all the gory details here.
Just by chance, CCPOA is trying to get a new contract with a pay increase from Perata and his allies in the Legislature. Last year they tried to ram through a pay increase at the last minute but the deal died as the session ended. To demonstrate their displeasure with the Democratic leadership, they then spent $2 million to defeat the February initiative to change term limits, a pet project of the Democrats. My guess is they get what they want this time or else they would have withheld the donation until after the legislative session. You don’t “invest” over a half a million dollars if you think you will not get the “return on investment” you desire.
Now I am certainly not accusing either party of doing something wrong. Perish the thought. But if you believe there is no connection between these two events, I have an international orange-colored bridge in San Francisco that I would like to sell you.
Poll: California is Still Fiscally Conservative
What jumped out at me reading the results of the new Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) poll is that fiscal conservatism is still strong in the Golden State. While the poll indicated that a plurality of those polled (44%) felt that a mix of tax increases and spending cuts should be used to solve the budget crisis, nearly as many likely voters (38%) said the budget hole should be closed only with cuts.
On top of that, almost all voters think the state wastes money. That statement is not an exaggeration. It truly is almost ALL likely voters according to the PPIC survey. Nearly two-thirds of the likely voters (63%) said the state wastes a lot of money, and an additional 31% said the state wastes some money. A staggering total of 94% see the state as wasteful.
Furthermore, jobs and the economy is the big issue with voters right now. Forty-two percent say that is the number one issue in California and taxes is second at 10%. The frequent number one issue, education, was ranked fourth at just 6% in this poll.
Prop 2. backers suing to change their own ballot statement
In California, supporters of Prop 2, a Humane Society-backed ballot initiative to regulate how farm animals are confined, appear to have made a little bit of legal history. Earlier this month, they essentially sued themselves in an attempt to change their own ballot argument in favor of the measure.
The lawsuit, which is attached below, makes for odd reading. The language of the lawsuit sounds almost apologetic, asking for a "very minor change" (italics not mine) in both the ballot argument and the rebuttal to the "no" side’s argument. Technically, the supporters are suing the Secretary of State, but they’re suing the Secretary of State to change something they themselves wrote. The reason for the filing? To avoid voter confusion, the lawsuit says.
Way to Go Joe!
One of the things I wish I could take home with me from Denver is the rekindling of the spirit and soul of American politics that I have felt so greatly here. In every restaurant and every bar, on the streets and in every conversation – people are invested, interested and engaged. I have to keep reminding myself that this isn’t "real life" – but I wish it was. Wouldn’t it be amazing if when our political leaders spoke, people really did stop their idle chatter and pay rapt attention to the words and the issues?
Well, for one week here in Denver, government means something, our future makes a difference, and people everywhere feel a sense of ownership.
And I think that’s what makes this time in our political history so special. For the first time in what has been a long, cold winter, people are shedding the apathy and disenfranchisement of the past 8 years and are waking up to a new America. One where things don’t just happen but where people have a voice and a say in their future.