Posted on 01/05/2005 9:36:04 AM PST by NormsRevenge
In his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature this evening, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to outline an ambitious reform agenda. It likely will include not only sweeping changes in California's dysfunctional budget process but also an overhaul of how legislative and congressional districts are drawn.
Our advice to the governor: Be bold in the face of predictable opposition from entrenched special interests and majorities in the Senate and Assembly who have a stake in preserving the discredited status quo.
Because of his unique appeal across the political spectrum – from unionized truck drivers to hidebound bankers – Schwarzenegger has a rare opportunity to bring fundamental change to Sacramento. But he is likely to succeed only if he goes over the heads of legislators and makes his case convincingly to the people. The key to accomplishing big things is marshaling the voters' demands for an overdue shake-up of state government.
Under ideal circumstances, the governor would engage lawmakers in a constructive debate about how to overcome the state's chronic shortcomings. The result of that legislative give-and-take would be a bipartisan package of constitutional amendments to be submitted to voters next year. If, however, Democratic leaders assume the role of obstructionists bent on perpetuating business as usual, it is only prudent for Schwarzenegger to keep open the option of appealing directly to voters through the initiative process.
Schwarzenegger has hinted at calling a special session of the Legislature next fall to address his reform plans. The most important of these is scrapping the Legislature's control over how boundaries are drawn after each census for Senate, Assembly and congressional districts. Although redistricting is an arcane process, it is critically important to the functioning of the state; it is, in fact, the DNA of democratic governance.
Under present rules, Republican and Democratic lawmakers conspire together to carve out safe seats for incumbents of both parties. This robs the electoral process of vital competition. Worse, it makes lawmakers far less accountable to the people, because their re-election is virtually assured by corrupt redistricting practices. This also explains why the Legislature is so unresponsive to the general interest and so beholden to the special interests who are the source of oversized campaign contributions.
To overcome legislators' inherent conflict-of-interest, Schwarz-enegger has proposed that district boundaries be devised by an impartial third party, such as a panel of retired judges. The wisdom of this approach was proven after the 1990 census when, due to a stalemate between the Legislature and Gov. Pete Wilson, the state Supreme Court oversaw the redistricting process. The result was competitive districts that resulted in the Assembly changing partisan hands multiple times, along with several state Senate and congressional districts.
Schwarzenegger is taking on an enormous challenge in attempting to break the Legislature's grip on the redistricting process. Yet it is a fight worth making. Governor, be bold.
Be bold?
how 'bout elimination of the state income tax and a balanced budget!
one sentence! LOL
Nothing like being concise and BOLD all in one sentence!
It's only a matter of time before tax paying folks either leave the state in droves or rise up and refuse to pay for it anymore.
I agree. Any shortfall can be made up by extending the sales
tax to groceries.
deport the illegals including the incarcerated and there won't be a shortfall..
it's just time for RINOld to have a testicle check!
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