The Coming Initiative Wars Over Budget Reform
Legislature leaders came together on a budget deal over the weekend, but reportedly few major reforms in the budget process will be part of the deal.
Get ready for the coming initiative wars over budget reform. I believe frustrated political interests as well as members of the legislature will ask the people to reform the way the system works on the 2010 ballot.
Even if a 2009 special election is called to put forth some constitutional changes created by the legislature and included in the budget deal, big changes on the budget front will probably find their way onto the 2010 ballot by initiative.
Senate President Pro Tem to be Darrell Steinberg has already said he will not go through this type of stalled budget mess again, indicating an initiative is on the horizon to lower the two-thirds vote to pass the budget. Whether there will be included in a budget reform measure, or in a separate measure, a proposal to lower the two-thirds vote requirement to raise taxes is also a possibility.
Try California, Guys
Call me a homer, but I think it’s rotten form for major California organizations to have retreats and conferences out of state. It’s particularly bad form if you’re say a union that has just launched a recall of the governor, or a group of Republican legislators holding out on approval of the budget.
The California Correctional Peace Officers Assn., whose leaders have filed a notice of recall against Gov. Schwarzenegger, are holding their convention later this month in Las Vegas. I’m sure they got a good rate and will have a good time. But it’s tone deaf for a high-profile union that is demanding a big pay raise to go to Nevada. Earth to the CCPOA boys: your pay doesn’t come out of thin air. It comes from state tax dollars. State tax dollars are generated from economic activity here in California. Thus, it’s borderline obnoxious to help the Nevada budget while seeking to take money from the California budget. If you want a raise and a new contract, why don’t you swing by Carson City and ask the Nevada legislature for one while you’re at it?
Texas Takes Shine Off Golden State
Got a cowboy hat? Me neither. But it sure looks like more business folks are putting one on and moving to Texas.
That state last week made a big deal about how its economy has taken off in recent years. And it contrasted itself with California.
Actually, it makes sense to compare the two states, since they are the biggest economically and are something of rivals. But the comparison isn’t pretty. While Texans apparently are spending time keeping up with their booming economy, we seem to be blowing time keeping up with the Kardashians.
The Texas study, done by the Texas Public Policy Foundation, compared the two states for the last 10 years. On average, it said, Texas’ real economy grew 4.3 percent a year since 1997; California’s grew 3.7 percent. But Texas has been picking up speed in recent years.
What’s more, real personal income growth was much higher in Texas. Ditto for job growth.
George Putnam
George Putnam, the legendary pioneering newsman and radio talk show host who helped energize the electorate to pass property tax cutting Proposition 13, passed away in Chino on Friday at the age of 94. Putnam was a fixture on Los Angeles television and radio for 50 years in a career that spanned 70 years. He was still working at the mic on his syndicated “Talk Back” radio program up until a few months ago.
Putnam advocated for property tax reform for many years. He offered an open microphone to Prop 13 co-author Howard Jarvis on his program day after day. Putnam once said Jarvis appeared about 50 days in a row at one stretch. In turn, Jarvis credited Putnam, along with fellow talk radio hosts Ray Briem and Hilly Rose with getting the message out on Proposition 13.
The issue of property tax reform was one Putnam adopted well before any modern day property tax measure appeared on the ballot. In 1957 he helped conduct a rally at the Los Angeles Coliseum against high property taxes, although he once told me the organizers could have picked a better venue. Six thousand protestors looked lost in the cavernous arena. “If you’re going to impress people, for God’s sake, put it in a small area so that it overwhelms the room,” Putnam said.