Posted on 12/06/2010 8:14:00 AM PST by SmithL
The decline of the California Legislature from an institution once considered to be a model for other states to something held in disdain by nearly 90 percent of voters is a case study in unintended consequences.
Misguided and misnamed "reforms" – professionalization, term limits, campaign contribution limits and lobbying restrictions, etc. – conspired with an ever-changing social and economic reality and self-serving political hijinks, such as gerrymandered districts, to weaken the Capitol's ability to function.
The Legislature's comic opera efforts to fix a chronically unbalanced state budget testify to its impotence. Each fiscal failure – they are now happening every few months – earns its members even more public scorn.
One almost yearns for the pre-reform, part-time, semi-corrupt and not particularly democratic Legislature of a half-century ago, which did the public's business reasonably well. And given the sorry history of reform, we should contemplate another reformist surge with some trepidation.
As lawmakers return to the Capitol, a few blocks westward the newly created Citizens Redistricting Commission is beginning its work, with eight initial members drawn by lot choosing six more from 28 other finalists.
When all 14 members have been seated, the commission will use 2010 census data to draw 120 new legislative districts, four Board of Equalization districts and districts for whatever number of congressional seats California winds up getting – 53 now but possibly one or two more or less, depending on census results.
The commission replaces the Legislature – and sometimes the courts – in drawing the districts because voters finally agreed that letting politicians choose their voters is inherently corrupt and corrosive.
Proponents of redistricting reform contend that it will result in fairer districts and perhaps reduce the ideological polarization that has been one of the Capitol's disabling conditions.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
Polarization isn’t a problem. The rats can’t lose with the current districts, that’s the problem. That and all the Ahnold RINOs.
The voters hold them in disdain, yet strong majorities of those same voters continue to demand leftist, eco-nazi, socially radical candidates.
Who is really dysfunctional in California?
Not in its present configuration. It needs to be changed to a part time legialature - 180 days per year. No other legislation is to be considered or passed until a balanced budget is produced and signed. No “perks” as a legislator - they need to hold real jobs and feel the effects of the laws and regulations they create and inflict upon the rest of us.
Is this a trick question?
The answer is no.
Democrats tax and spend more than they take in.
It’s a fact of life.
The only way the CA legislature can be “fixed” is to let it collapse the entire California economy.
As someone wise once said, “The only way to defeat a liberal is to give them everything they want.”......................
Incomming....
‘You’ remain a glutton for punishment.
You=California business owners&taxpayers
Corrupt gubamint yields a corrupt state.
When voters support more of same.. it is inevitable that the state eventually collapse under the burden of its debt and debauchery.
I'm not letting the Legislature entirely off the hook, but you're basically right. California voters have saddled the Legislature with impossible budget requirements through the "direct democracy" initiative process.
Meanwhile gerrymandering, the increasing power of public employee unions, socialist policies and voter greed/ignorance have condemned this state. I'm trying to find a way to leave "Hotel California."
Only if the voters get rid of democrats and rinos.
—most of the problem—
California Academic Performance Index (API)
California Access for Infants and Mothers
California Acupuncture Board
California Administrative Office of the Courts
California Adoptions Branch
California African American Museum
California Agricultural Export Program
California Agricultural Labor Relations Board
California Agricultural Statistics Service
California Air Resources Board (CARB)
California Allocation Board
California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority
California Animal Health and Food Safety Services
California Anti-Terrorism Information Center
California Apprenticeship Council
California Arbitration Certification Program
California Architects Board
California Area VI Developmental Disabilities Board
California Arts Council
California Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus
California Assembly Democratic Caucus
California Assembly Republican Caucus
California Athletic Commission
California Attorney General
California Bay Conservation and Development Commission
California Bay-Delta Authority
California Bay-Delta Office
California Biodiversity Council
California Board for Geologists and Geophysicists
California Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
California Board of Accountancy
California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology
California Board of Behavioral Sciences
California Board of Chiropractic Examiners
California Board of Equalization (BOE)
California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection
California Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind
California Board of Occupational Therapy
California Board of Optometry
California Board of Pharmacy
California Board of Podiatric Medicine
California Board of Prison Terms
California Board of Psychology
California Board of Registered Nursing
California Board of Trustees
California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians
California Braille and Talking Book Library
California Building Standards Commission
California Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education
California Bureau of Automotive Repair
California Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair
California Bureau of Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation
California Bureau of Naturopathic Medicine
California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services
California Bureau of State Audits
California Business Agency
California Business Investment Services (CalBIS)
California Business Permit Information (CalGOLD)
California Business Portal
California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency
California Cal Grants
California CalJOBS
California Cal-Learn Program
California CalVet Home Loan Program
California Career Resource Network
California Cemetery and Funeral Bureau
California Center for Analytical Chemistry
California Center for Distributed Learning
California Center for Teaching Careers (Teach California)
California Chancellor’s Office
California Charter Schools
California Children and Families Commission
California Children and Family Services Division
California Citizens Compensation Commission
California Civil Rights Bureau
California Coastal Commission
California Coastal Conservancy
California Code of Regulations
California Collaborative Projects with UC Davis
California Commission for Jobs and Economic Growth
California Commission on Aging
California Commission on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation
California Commission on Judicial Performance
California Commission on State Mandates
California Commission on Status of Women
California Commission on Teacher Credentialing
California Commission on the Status of Women
California Committee on Dental Auxiliaries
California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, Junior Colleges
California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office
California Complaint Mediation Program
California Conservation Corps
California Constitution Revision Commission
California Consumer Hotline
California Consumer Information Center
California Consumer Information
California Consumer Services Division
California Consumers and Families Agency
California Contractors State License Board
California Corrections Standards Authority
California Council for the Humanities
California Council on Criminal Justice
California Council on Developmental Disabilities
California Court Reporters Board
California Courts of Appeal
California Crime and Violence Prevention Center
California Criminal Justice Statistics Center
California Criminalistic Institute Forensic Library
California CSGnet Network Management
California Cultural and Historical Endowment
California Cultural Resources Division
California Curriculum and Instructional Leadership Branch
California Data Exchange Center
California Data Management Division
California Debt and Investment Advisory Commission
California Delta Protection Commission
California Democratic Caucus
California Demographic Research Unit
California Dental Auxiliaries
California Department of Aging
California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs
California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Appeals Board
California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
California Department of Boating and Waterways (Cal Boating)
California Department of Child Support Services (CDCSS)
California Department of Community Services and Development
California Department of Conservation
California Department of Consumer Affairs
California Department of Corporations
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
California Department of Developmental Services
California Department of Education
California Department of Fair Employment and Housing
California Department of Finance
California Department of Financial Institutions
California Department of Fish and Game
California Department of Food and Agriculture
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF)
California Department of General Services
California Department of General Services, Office of State Publishing
California Department of Health Care Services
California Department of Housing and Community Development
California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR)
California Department of Insurance
California Department of Justice Firearms Division
California Department of Justice Opinion Unit
California Department of Justice, Consumer Information, Public Inquiry Unit
California Department of Justice
California Department of Managed Health Care
California Department of Mental Health
California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
California Department of Personnel Administration
California Department of Pesticide Regulation
California Department of Public Health
California Department of Real Estate
California Department of Rehabilitation
California Department of Social Services Adoptions Branch
California Department of Social Services
California Department of Technology Services Training Center (DTSTC)
California Department of Technology Services (DTS)
California Department of Toxic Substances Control
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVets)
California Department of Water Resources
California Departmento de Vehiculos Motorizados
California Digital Library
California Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Certification Program
California Division of Apprenticeship Standards
California Division of Codes and Standards
California Division of Communicable Disease Control
California Division of Engineering
California Division of Environmental and Occupational Disease Control
California Division of Gambling Control
California Division of Housing Policy Development
California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement
California Division of Labor Statistics and Research
California Division of Land and Right of Way
California Division of Land Resource Protection
California Division of Law Enforcement General Library
California Division of Measurement Standards
California Division of Mines and Geology
California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA)
California Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources
California Division of Planning and Local Assistance
California Division of Recycling
California Division of Safety of Dams
California Division of the State Architect
California Division of Tourism
California Division of Workers’ Compensation Medical Unit
California Division of Workers’ Compensation
California Economic Assistance, Business and Community Resources
California Economic Strategy Panel
California Education and Training Agency
California Education Audit Appeals Panel
California Educational Facilities Authority
California Elections Division
California Electricity Oversight Board
California Emergency Management Agency
California Emergency Medical Services Authority
California Employment Development Department (EDD)
California Employment Information State Jobs
California Employment Training Panel
California Energy Commission
California Environment and Natural Resources Agency
California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA)
California Environmental Resources Evaluation System (CERES)
California Executive Office
California Export Laboratory Services
California Exposition and State Fair (Cal Expo)
California Fair Political Practices Commission
California Fairs and Expositions Division
California Film Commission
California Fire and Resource Assessment Program
California Firearms Division
California Fiscal Services
California Fish and Game Commission
California Fisheries Program Branch
California Floodplain Management
California Foster Youth Help
California Franchise Tax Board (FTB)
California Fraud Division
California Gambling Control Commission
California Geographic Information Systems Council (GIS)
California Geological Survey
California Government Claims and Victim Compensation Board
California Governor’s Committee for Employment of Disabled Persons
California Governor’s Mentoring Partnership
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
California Governor’s Office of Homeland Security
California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research
California Governor’s Office
California Grant and Enterprise Zone Programs HCD Loan
California Health and Human Services Agency
California Health and Safety Agency
California Healthy Families Program
California Hearing Aid Dispensers Bureau
California High-Speed Rail Authority
California Highway Patrol (CHP)
California History and Culture Agency
California Horse Racing Board
California Housing Finance Agency
California Indoor Air Quality Program
California Industrial Development Financing Advisory Commission
California Industrial Welfare Commission
California InFoPeople
California Information Center for the Environment
California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (I-Bank)
California Inspection Services
California Institute for County Government
California Institute for Education Reform
California Integrated Waste Management Board
California Interagency Ecological Program
California Job Service
California Junta Estatal de Personal
California Labor and Employment Agency
California Labor and Workforce Development Agency
California Labor Market Information Division
California Land Use Planning Information Network (LUPIN)
California Lands Commission
California Landscape Architects Technical Committee
California Latino Legislative Caucus
California Law Enforcement Branch
California Law Enforcement General Library
California Law Revision Commission
California Legislative Analyst’s Office
California Legislative Black Caucus
California Legislative Counsel
California Legislative Division
California Legislative Information
California Legislative Lesbian, Gay , Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Caucus
California Legislature Internet Caucus
California Library Development Services
California License and Revenue Branch
California Major Risk Medical Insurance Program
California Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board
California Maritime Academy
California Marketing Services
California Measurement Standards
California Medical Assistance Commission
California Medical Care Services
California Military Department
California Mining and Geology Board
California Museum for History, Women, and the Arts
California Museum Resource Center
California National Guard
California Native American Heritage Commission
California Natural Community Conservation Planning Program
California New Motor Vehicle Board
California Nursing Home Administrator Program
California Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board
California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board
California Ocean Resources Management Program
California Office of Administrative Hearings
California Office of Administrative Law
California Office of AIDS
California Office of Binational Border Health
California Office of Child Abuse Prevention
California Office of Deaf Access
California Office of Emergency Services (OES)
California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
California Office of Fiscal Services
California Office of Fleet Administration
California Office of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Implementation (CalOHI)
California Office of Historic Preservation
California Office of Homeland Security
California Office of Human Resources
California Office of Legal Services
California Office of Legislation
California Office of Lieutenant Governor
California Office of Military and Aerospace Support
California Office of Mine Reclamation
California Office of Natural Resource Education
California Office of Privacy Protection
California Office of Public School Construction
California Office of Real Estate Appraisers
California Office of Risk and Insurance Management
California Office of Services to the Blind
California Office of Spill Prevention and Response
California Office of State Publishing (OSP)
California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development
California Office of Systems Integration
California Office of the Inspector General
California Office of the Ombudsman
California Office of the Patient Advocate
California Office of the President
California Office of the Secretary for Education
California Office of the State Fire Marshal
California Office of the State Public Defender
California Office of Traffic Safety
California Office of Vital Records
California Online Directory
California Operations Control Office
California Opinion Unit
California Outreach and Technical Assistance Network (OTAN)
California Park and Recreation Commission
California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST)
California Performance Review (CPR)
California Permit Information for Business (CalGOLD)
California Physical Therapy Board
California Physician Assistant Committee
California Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services
California Policy and Evaluation Division
California Political Reform Division
California Pollution Control Financing Authority
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
California Postsecondary Education Commission
California Prevention Services
California Primary Care and Family Health
California Prison Industry Authority
California Procurement Division
California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS)
California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB)
California Public Utilities Commission (PUC)
California Real Estate Services Division
California Refugee Programs Branch
California Regional Water Quality Control Boards
California Registered Veterinary Technician Committee
California Registrar of Charitable Trusts
California Republican Caucus
California Research and Development Division
California Research Bureau
California Resources Agency
California Respiratory Care Board
California Rivers Assessment
California Rural Health Policy Council
California Safe Schools
California San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission
California San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy
California San Joaquin River Conservancy
California School to Career
California Science Center
California Scripps Institution of Oceanography
California Secretary of State Business Portal
California Secretary of State
California Seismic Safety Commission
California Self Insurance Plans (SIP)
California Senate Office of Research
California Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Certification Program
California Small Business Development Center Program
California Smart Growth Caucus
California Smog Check Information Center
California Spatial Information Library
California Special Education Division
California Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board
California Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR)
California Standards and Assessment Division
California State Administrative Manual (SAM)
California State Allocation Board
California State and Consumer Services Agency
California State Architect
California State Archives
California State Assembly
California State Association of Counties (CSAC)
California State Board of Education
California State Board of Food and Agriculture
California Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO)
California State Children’s Trust Fund
California State Compensation Insurance Fund
California State Contracts Register Program
California State Contracts Register
California State Controller
California State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD)
California State Disability Insurance (SDI)
California State Fair (Cal Expo)
California State Jobs Employment Information
California State Lands Commission
California State Legislative Portal
California State Legislature
California State Library Catalog
California State Library Services Bureau
California State Library
California State Lottery
California State Mediation and Conciliation Service
California State Mining and Geology Board
California State Park and Recreation Commission
California State Parks
California State Personnel Board
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
California State Railroad Museum
California State Science Fair
California State Senate
California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS)
California State Summer School for the Arts
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction
California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS)
California State Treasurer
California State University Center for Distributed Learning
California State University, Bakersfield
California State University, Channel Islands
California State University, Chico
California State University, Dominguez Hills
California State University, East Bay
California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Monterey Bay
California State University, Northridge
California State University, Sacramento
California State University, San Bernardino
California State University, San Marcos
California State University, Stanislaus
California State University (CSU)
California State Water Project Analysis Office
California State Water Project
California State Water Resources Control Board
California Structural Pest Control Board
California Student Aid Commission
California Superintendent of Public Instruction
California Superior Courts
California Tahoe Conservancy
California Task Force on Culturally and Linguistically Competent Physicians and Dentists
California Tax Information Center
California Technology and Administration Branch Finance
California Telecommunications Division
California Telephone Medical Advice Services (TMAS)
California Transportation Commission
California Travel and Transportation Agency
California Unclaimed Property Program
California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board
California Unemployment Insurance Program
California Uniform Construction Cost Accounting Commission
California Veterans Board
California Veterans Memorial
California Veterinary Medical Board and Registered Veterinary Technician Examining Committee
California Veterinary Medical Board
California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board
CaliforniaVolunteers
California Voter Registration
California Water Commission
California Water Environment Association (CWEA)
California Water Resources Control Board
California Welfare to Work Division
California Wetlands Information System
California Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch
California Wildlife Conservation Board
California Wildlife Programs Branch
California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs)
California Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board
California Workforce and Labor Development Agency
California Workforce Investment Board
California Youth Authority (CYA)
Central Valley Flood Protection Board
Center for California Studies
Colorado River Board of California
Counting California
Dental Board of California
Health Insurance Plan of California (PacAdvantage)
Humboldt State University
Jobs with the State of California
Judicial Council of California
Learn California
Library of California
Lieutenant Governor’s Commission for One California
Little Hoover Commission (on California State Government Organization and Economy)
Medical Board of California
Medi-Cal
Osteopathic Medical Board of California
Physical Therapy Board of California
Regents of the University of California
San Diego State University
San Francisco State University
San José State University
Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
State Bar of California
Supreme Court of California
Teach California
University of California
University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Davis
University of California, Hastings College of the Law
University of California, Irvine
University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Merced
University of California, Riverside
University of California, San Diego
University of California, San Francisco
University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Cruz
Veterans Home of California
Answer: The point has been reached where the cure can only be by "Blood & Iron."(Apologies to Bismarck)
“Polarization” = “confiscate ever more taxes from productive citizens” versus “stop any further confiscation”.
You can never leave.
all we can do is hold the line on Not One Penny for Bailouts!
Once they can no longer send out checks you will quickly see 120 Mussolinis out there...
Yet another brain dead ‘news’ piece. Its not the legislature that needs fixing, its the ELECTORATE. As long as the voters send commies to Sacramento the crisis will persist.
“
You can check out any time you like
But you can never leave
“
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