Here’s an irony from this weekend’s state Democratic convention. Many of the delegates and public employee union members demand that democratic proceedings, including voting on budgets and taxes, require a simple majority vote to pass. However, they are celebrating that the Proposition 1A budget reform endorsement at the party’s convention was rejected because it failed to achieve sixty percent vote required by party rules.
Fifty-eight percent of the delegates voted for the endorsement but that was not enough. Now party faithful who claimed victory over the vote are prepared to campaign against the two-thirds vote for the budget and taxes.
There was no mincing words at the Democratic convention this weekend on the two-thirds vote rule. New state Democratic Party Chairman John Burton said he would lead the charge to get rid of the two-thirds vote to pass the budget. State Treasurer Bill Lockyer said the two-thirds vote had to go. This crusade has been top of the list for other leading Democrats as well for some time. Their wish was well received by the party faithful in attendance. Here’s how Calbuzz put it: “Big cheer when Johnny B. (Burton) vows to get rid of 2/3 vote to pass the budget.”
But while Burton and Lockyer talk about doing away with the two thirds vote rule to pass the budget, we all understand that what the Democratic leadership really wants is reduce the two-thirds vote to raise taxes.
As I wrote here after the budget deal came together in February, “Those seeking tax increases would still need a two-thirds vote to raise taxes even if there were a majority vote budget rule in place. The majority would not have tried to solve the budget problem without taxes. So the goal is clear. Ultimately, the plan will be to knock down the two-thirds vote to pass taxes.”
It is hardly a well kept secret that some public employee unions are gearing up to undo the two-thirds vote by initiative, especially if the May ballot measures dealing with the budget fix fail.
However, the passion against the two-thirds vote in certain circles is not shared by most Californians. Recall Proposition 56 on the 2004 primary election ballot. The measure would have lowered the requirement to pass the budget and taxes from two-thirds to 55%. It was defeated 34.3% to 65.7% despite the Yes side spending over $5-million more to pass the measure.
True, times have changed. Opponents of the two-thirds vote are counting on public anger over the budget deal. Perhaps they expect more budget cuts would turn voters against the two-thirds vote requirement. It is more likely that the actions of the legislature will reinforce the voters’ lack of trust that legislators can get the job done.
My guess is voters will continue to see the two-thirds vote as a protection that must be maintained. But, there is no question the battle will be joined and the value of the two-thirds vote will be weighed again.