Posted on 10/24/2005 9:12:56 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
ON PAGE 22 OF THE BALLOT PAMPHLET sent to every registered voter can be found the fatal flaw in Proposition 76, one of the measures most dear to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
--snip--
California already has one of the strongest governorships in the nation, primarily because the state's executive can veto or reduce almost any spending item — including the state budget — sent to him by the Legislature. This extraordinary power is subject, as it should be, to an override by a two-thirds vote of the Legislature.
But the ballot initiative, which the governor calls the "Live Within Our Means Act" and which was drafted by anti-tax and pro-business political interests, goes much further. In a fiscal emergency, such as the one California suffered after the dot-com bust, it would allow the governor to cut virtually any spending he wanted if the Legislature failed to agree on ways to address revenue shortfalls. The measure does not provide any check or balance on this action.
California, unlike most states, requires a two-thirds vote to pass any spending measure, a fact that also enhances the executive's power. The governor is a key negotiator in fashioning a budget that can attract the required two-thirds vote, whether his own party is in power in the Legislature or not.
--snip--
There are other reasons to defeat Proposition 76. It would write five pages of tiny type (Pages 60-64 in the ballot pamphlet) into the state Constitution with even more dictates on how the state allocates public resources during periods of declining revenue. Based on past efforts, the odds are it will not work the way the authors intend. Proposition 76 is likely to lead to even more deadlock and partisanship.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
I highly encourage California voters to read the information provided to you in the voter guides.
The political ads are just that, ads, and provide little insight into the fine print of the initiatives.
That's the heart of the matter. Sacramento spends before all else.
Just give half of California to Mexico and that will solve the budget problem. Preferably San Francisco.
Did the legislature force the latest Governor to submit 2 years worth of budgets, each containing an increase of ~10% of the previous year's submission?
I would love to present a bill to Mexico for services to their citizens in the billions a year that they costs us.
Mexico should be give us billions a year in oil as payment.
Those currently running the legislature would like nothing more than to force series of monster tax increases on the state, but need a major financial crisis to blame in order to do so.
Prop. 76 restructures power in CA to prevent this. It is modest proposal to solve a huge problem.
Hmmmmm....so it's bad to give the governor power to reduce spending? I'm trying to understand why that's bad.
Uhhh, he already has the power to do so...
calcowgirl said one of these propositions gave Arnold the abiltiy to borrow more money, was 76 the one that does that?
Thanks for the heads up!
Doesn't every governor (and president) have veto power with some sort of supermajority required to over-ride it? The Los Angeles Hyperventilator (Times) is at at again...
In a perfect world, I wish these propositions weren't necessary, and I don't ordinarily vote in favor of such things. But the proposition does include the provision for legislative action, and while we have mandated budget provisions we need a check against unreasonable spending.
At least ya gave me a Yes or a No.
I have seen conservative Republicans recommend them, the few there are sadly, so don't broad brush your own team, Thanks.
Rule of thumb: If the LA Times is going one way, I'm going the opposite.
Sorry to hear that.
Closed minds are the refuge of ill-informed voters, imo, and part of why we are in the mess we are in because so mnay vote that way.
Well .. it's too late - I have already voted!!
If you look at past performance and the powers he has already failed to wield, and he in fact borrowed 15 billion more, why feel confident more power will be the magic elixir?
imo, It is just another gimmick in the finest tradition of what Californians have seen used the last few years to advance social programs spending and a socialist agenda.
It is anything but close to modest.
Too much power in the governor? It's the legislature that got them into this mess. They seem to be pretty clueless.
What! If the legislature doesn't do its job, the governor is allowed to take the reins. If the legislature wants to "check" the governor, it needs to do its job.
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