The Right to Vote Applies to More than Taxes
Listening to Jerry Brown quote the California Constitution in his State of the State speech — "All political power is inherent in the people" — gave me a bizarre case of déjà vu. Howard Jarvis, Brown’s nemesis three decades ago, used to cite that same phrase from the constitution all the time.
However, the goals of Brown and Jarvis are at cross-purposes.
Jarvis wanted to encourage a vote of the people through the initiative process to cut taxes. Brown wants the people to vote to raise, or extend taxes.
Perhaps that is the beauty of this constitutional provision — it is a general rule that applies to different points of view.
Republican response to Brown’s State of the State speech criticized what Brown did not say. Some Republicans said Brown should have offered up thoughts on pension reform. Others were looking for reductions in regulations, or an emphasis on job creation.
I Got Your Budget Alternatives Right Here
Why was Gov. Jerry Brown’s state of the state speech so
short? I don’t know. Perhaps he didn’t feel California deserved anything more.
The address felt like a slap in the face. Republicans got the open hand for refusing
to consider tax increases (or even give the public a chance to vote on tax
increases). Democrats and interest
groups got hit for refusing to identify alternatives to cuts they oppose.
Those shots were plenty fair.
Brown’s targets are guilty as charged. But Brown might consider finding a lower
horse to ride, for he is not without sin in this budget business himself.
Brown’s
budget is more honest than recent documents, but it’s not a panacea. Its tax
increases are temporary, not permanent. There’s plenty of one-time money and
even a few gimmicks. And with California’s dysfunctional system constantly
working to reduce revenues and add new spending mandates, Brown’s plan
certainly won’t fix the budget problem once and for all. It kicks the can down the
road, albeit further down the road than recent budgets.
Preserving the CA Enterprise Program
Working for a leading California economic development organization, I am
often asked about the state of our economy and my thoughts on how we can
get it back on track. Clearly this is a top concern to citizens here in
California and across the country.
We’ve seen a lot of posturing on how to improve the economy and create
much-needed jobs from elected officials in Washington, DC as well as from
those campaigning for elected office last November. No question that with
sluggish job growth, a still-stressed economy and structural deficits as
far as the eye can see, our federally-elected officials must support
policies that spur business growth, stimulate the U.S. economy and
encourage private sector hiring.
Like their federal counterparts, our state officials need to enact
policies that support economic development and job growth. Similarly,
state leaders must also safeguard successful programs that have been
shown to generate jobs, reduce poverty levels and support local economies
– this must be part of any rational economic recovery program.
Time to Chase Community Redevelopment Agencies Out of Town
Los Angeles city officials are wailing that civilization as we know it may be imperiled if Gov. Jerry Brown has his way and kills community redevelopment agencies.
Maybe I’m just a postredevelopment Pollyanna, but I think our way of life would survive just fine. In fact, we’d be better off without them.
Why? Because CRAs are one of those well-intentioned initiatives that sounded great and started off well enough decades ago and have some accomplishments they can point to, such as the Hollywood & Highland Center. But over the years, they have devolved into corrupt little political fiefdoms that muck up the works and don’t do much good.
Sure, CRAs may encourage project construction in some supposedly blighted areas, but those developments mostly are just shifted over from another area. At least, that’s what the nonpartisan state Legislative Analyst’s Office reported a few weeks ago. It went on to say: “There is no reliable evidence that redevelopment projects attract businesses to the state or increase overall economic development in California.”