Posted on 03/13/2009 10:56:00 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger endorsed a California constitutional convention – last used in 1878 – as a way to fix what he described Thursday as the state's "dysfunctional" system.
Speaking at the Commonwealth Club of California, the Republican governor took dead aim at potential foes of budget-related measures he wants voters to pass May 19 while embracing several political changes not on the ballot.
Schwarzenegger said legislative term limits should be extended so state lawmakers have time to build sufficient experience. He said the initiative process should be changed to prevent well-heeled groups from pitching bond measures the state can't afford.
And he supported a state constitutional convention to overhaul California's government as a whole.
"I think that eventually the state of California has to look at a constitutional convention, to really look at the whole thing, the way government works in California," Schwarzenegger said. "Because there are many aspects of government in California that are dysfunctional."
The idea has gained momentum in recent months, led by the Bay Area Council, a group of business leaders.
Convening a new constitutional convention requires two-thirds legislative approval, a major barrier, advocates said. To skip that step, the Bay Area Council wants to place two initiatives on the November 2010 ballot – one allowing voters to call a convention, as well as a proposal authorizing an immediate convention.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
Plus he’d get to write ‘gay marriage’ into the California Constitution; the voters be damned!
You got that right!
I think Arnold does whatever his lib relatives tell him to.
To be expected from a dedicated communist.
Right. A Constitutional Convention opens the entire document up for rewrite by the current cognizenti. Not a good idea. If there are pieces of the Constitution which ought to be rewritten, then have at it piece by piece. By the way, I agree with the governor that bond measures should not be part of the initiative process. That has been severely abused, mainly by educrats and other unions.
Arnold made it dysfunctional with his unconstitutional big government expansion of the executive branch and the elimination of authority for elected representatives there.
Instead of a constitutional convention, how about a simple recall election?
Hooboy - I can only guess what will be on that lengthy agenda. “Like, tax the rich and buy puppies and kittens and dope for everyone, man.” Not that it would be a bad thing. Except for the puppies.
Sausage Factory.
A “ConCon” is a truly dangerous event.
He’ll wish he hadn’t.
Really bad idea. The left would dominate and strangle what freedom is left in CA.
We can only hope that adoption of the new constitution would require a vote by the citizens..
HA!
We are so royaly BONED out here in California. There is nothing you can do but watch it burn...
Well I don’t support a California Constitutional Convention.
He wants to get rid of term limits so he can be Governator until he dies.
The one problem I have with the initiative process is this. The voters have hardly ever found a bond measure they can’t wrap their loving arms around. They pass them by the boat load, then the state is saddled with paying them off.
If we’re going to continue the initiative process, I’d love to see a 75% approval by the voters be mandatory to pass them.
As for the constitutional convention, I’m not a big fan of the idea, unless it could outlaw anyone related to a Scwarzenegger, a Kennedy, a Wilson and a few select other families from having anything whatsoever to do with politics in perpetuity.
Even then, these types of conventions open a can of worms I’m not inclined to want to deal with.
I’ll bet a bond wouldn’t pass right now. Of course it is probably too late. Bullet trains and stem cell research, anybody?
“a way to fix what he described Thursday as the state’s “dysfunctional” system. “
If it’s dysfunctional, it is the fault of the people in power not the constitution.
He should do the noble thing and resign. And call on the Democrats in the lege to do the same.
They need to make it so the legislature can convene only one week every two years.
This would be last thing this state needs. the liberals would run it and the state would be changed for the worse. A terrible idea.
“Really bad idea. The left would dominate and strangle what freedom is left in CA.
We can only hope that adoption of the new constitution would require a vote by the citizens..”
YUP.
Constitutional limits, placed back in the day when a MAJORITY STOOD FOR FREEDOM, is one of the stumbling blocks to leftwing destruction of our nation.
A rewritten constitution would be rewritten by ACLU lawyer to in effect destroy your freedoms and institutionalize govt spending and socialist welfare state operations. It’s not too hard.
Canada was destroyed in part because they had a rewritten constitution in the 1970s.
I don’t know, people seem to think bonds are free. Once the bonds are sold and the money is spent on the purpose, the state is stuck with the debt. I don’t think people grasp that at all.
“The voters have hardly ever found a bond measure they can’t wrap their loving arms around. They pass them by the boat load, then the state is saddled with paying them off.”
That’s the fault of the voters. Then again, here in Texas, they have school bond elections, on special election days, with most of the polling places in schools, and campaigns underwritten by taxpayers - to help pass these bond issues.
Smart thing is to always vote NO. They will come back again and again on bond issues.
It would be nice, wouldnt it, to restrict bond elections to *taxpayers*?
“I don’t know, people seem to think bonds are free.”
That is so true. You oppose the bond, and people ask, “Don’t you want our children educated? Don’t you want a shiny new train? Don’t you want clean air and water?” As if all you have to do is want it, and presto magico, there it is.
When a leftist or even a moderate speaks of a Constitutional Convention, be sure it only means one thing....the result is less freedoms for the people and more powers to the government. It’s that simple.
Bury your guns now.
Agreed 100%. Most people have very little knowledge of basic economic terms.
I prefer watching it burn from afar. That’s the other thing you can do: move. I did and never looked back.
“Schwarzenegger said legislative term limits should be extended so state lawmakers have time to build sufficient experience”
Sufficinet experience at what? Being a left-wing NAZI like him? Robbing the consituency more effectively?
All I can say about AHNULD is if you sleep with a pig long enough, you get to smell like one, or think like one in this case.
Hmm.. a constitutional convention. How soon ‘til Dear Leader mentions those words.
“Convening a new constitutional convention requires two-thirds legislative approval, a major barrier, advocates said. “
Well. We saw how well the Pubbies held together on new taxes, so the Constitution is DEFINITELY safe. /sarcasm
Brad's Gramma opposes said endorsement.
OK, but that's not the governor's statement. Yamamura quoted the Austrian as remarking:
the initiative process should be changed to prevent well-heeled groups from pitching bond measures the state can't afford.
Preventing well heeled groups is a long way from should not be part of the initiative process.
Conservatives are up in arms because taxes (bonds) can be raised with a simple majority through the initiative loophole.
You’re quite right in your analysis. I didn’t read it carefully.
"a group of business leaders."
I'd sure like to see the list of names and the names of their firms. Even Jack Kennedy once said: "Love your enemies, but never forget their names!"
Pete Wilson already took a stab at this with a "Constitutional Revision Commission" and it went absolutely NOWHERE!!!
"He's a real nowhere man, working on his nowhere plan for nobody..."
Arnold wants a system where the governor is crowned, he appoints the legislators, the legislator’s appoint county supervisors and the supervisors appoint city councils and they all kneel before the King. Did I miss anything?
No, you pretty much got most of it. The only other thing missing is the little micro governmental bodies like fire districts, water/irrigation districts and all the myriad of “Special Districts” and then Home Owners Associations and Road Associations. They’re all the governments closest to the people, ya know.
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