Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Schwarzenegger backs California constitutional convention
Sac Bee ^ | 3/13/09 | Kevin Yamamura

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 ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: california; concon; constitutional; convention; schwarzenegger
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-34 next last

1 posted on 03/13/2009 10:56:00 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge

Plus he’d get to write ‘gay marriage’ into the California Constitution; the voters be damned!


2 posted on 03/13/2009 10:56:56 AM PDT by FormerLib (Sacrificing our land and our blood cannot buy protection from jihad.-Bishop Artemije of Kosovo)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FormerLib
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.

3 posted on 03/13/2009 11:01:40 AM PDT by bimboeruption (Clinging to my Bible and my HK.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge

To be expected from a dedicated communist.


4 posted on 03/13/2009 11:01:51 AM PDT by dalereed
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge
The power to establish initiative and referendum in California is a favorable element of that state's political system. Ironically, it was established in the early 20th Century by the Progressives and Populists, the leftists of that era. I wish all states had this option, for it is an effective way to overrule ossified and corrupt legislatures and liberal dominated court benches. It would be a shame for California to lose it or have it diminished through a rewrite of its constitution.
5 posted on 03/13/2009 11:03:16 AM PDT by Wallace T.
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FormerLib

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.


6 posted on 03/13/2009 11:04:36 AM PDT by caseinpoint (Don't get thickly involved in thin things)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge

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?


7 posted on 03/13/2009 11:04:39 AM PDT by hedgetrimmer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge

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.


8 posted on 03/13/2009 11:05:45 AM PDT by Billthedrill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge

Sausage Factory.
A “ConCon” is a truly dangerous event.
He’ll wish he hadn’t.


9 posted on 03/13/2009 11:07:28 AM PDT by SJSAMPLE
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SJSAMPLE

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..


10 posted on 03/13/2009 11:10:10 AM PDT by Oldexpat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: SJSAMPLE

HA!

We are so royaly BONED out here in California. There is nothing you can do but watch it burn...


11 posted on 03/13/2009 11:10:31 AM PDT by cups
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge

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.


12 posted on 03/13/2009 11:12:00 AM PDT by wastedyears (April 21st, 2009 - International Iron Maiden Day)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Wallace T.

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.


13 posted on 03/13/2009 11:13:21 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (Resolved: Gregg, McCain, Snowe, Spectre: 2010, Collins, Graham: 2014)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: DoughtyOne

I’ll bet a bond wouldn’t pass right now. Of course it is probably too late. Bullet trains and stem cell research, anybody?


14 posted on 03/13/2009 11:19:05 AM PDT by Marie2 (Ora et labora)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge

“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.


15 posted on 03/13/2009 11:21:59 AM PDT by WOSG (tagline is now unemployed due to Obama economy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge

They need to make it so the legislature can convene only one week every two years.


16 posted on 03/13/2009 11:22:00 AM PDT by microgood
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge

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.


17 posted on 03/13/2009 11:22:47 AM PDT by Uncle Hal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldexpat

“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.


18 posted on 03/13/2009 11:24:47 AM PDT by WOSG (tagline is now unemployed due to Obama economy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Marie2

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.


19 posted on 03/13/2009 11:25:21 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (Resolved: Gregg, McCain, Snowe, Spectre: 2010, Collins, Graham: 2014)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: DoughtyOne

“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*?


20 posted on 03/13/2009 11:26:57 AM PDT by WOSG (tagline is now unemployed due to Obama economy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-34 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson