In a recent piece commenting on the Public Policy Institute of California’s latest poll, Fox & Hounds editor Joel Fox raised an important question: “How do we
As lawmakers in Sacramento consider a flurry of climate change and clean energy measures in these last few weeks of the legislative session, it is
A strong California depends on an informed and active electorate. But too often, voters don’t have ready access to enough information to cast an informed vote. By
Newly
elected Governor Jerry Brown took office on January 3, 2011 and inherited a
$25.4 billion budget deficit. He quickly went to work proposing a budget that
balances revenues and cuts with a combination of tax extensions and cuts to
health and human services programs and higher education.
Californians
are aware that there are some big issues at stake including a proposal to
realign certain services from the state to counties and a proposal to eliminate
redevelopment agencies, but few understand the complicated specifics that may
have a very real impact on their lives.
July 1st has come and gone and California still does not have a budget. This is all too reminiscent of last year’s painful three-month long negotiation process, and it seems almost certain that we are in for another grueling budget resolution season.
While our legislators are grappling with issues of deficit reduction and increasing revenue, "California Budget Challenge" helps Californians understand the state’s economic woes. The California Budget Challenge is an easy-to-use nonpartisan online tool that simulates some of the tough choices our legislators face ranging from education spending to corporate taxation.
With each choice, users are given the option to learn more about the issues and to see how their decisions are closing or widening the state’s deficit with a "budget meter."
It took California’s legislature three long months of intense negotiations to resolve this year’s budget standoff. Now Californians can try their hand at solving the Golden State’s budget woes in just 15 minutes with the “California Budget Challenge.”
The California Budget Challenge is an easy-to-use nonpartisan online tool that simulates some of the tough choices our legislators face. The flash-based program leads users through choices on a variety of issues that affect the state’s finances, ranging from education to criminal justice. Users get to decide whether or not to raise income taxes, restructure Proposition 13, or expand health care coverage, among other choices. With each choice, a “budget meter” provides a running tally that shows the state’s budget gap growing or shrinking.
With the latest update, users will also get the opportunity to better understand May’s ballot measures. With each decision, users are presented with the option to learn more about the issues at hand and see whether they are closing or widening the state’s deficit. The Budget Challenge is one way that voters can educate themselves about the bigger picture of government in the Golden State.