The California legislature is a failed institution. The LA Daily News says in today’s front page editorial that our Leaders fail to lead in crisis. The legislature has been deteriorating for at least the past 30 years. 1978 was the year that the “People’s Initiative to Limit Property Taxation”, known as Proposition 13, was voted into law. According to Wikipedia 64.8% of the voters gave a Yes vote to the proposal despite the fear mongering of elected officials that government services would be desimated. The legislature’s half hearted alternative to the proposition has not been forgotten. As a young family in our first home we saw our property taxes increase by 50% in one year. The savings and loan holding our mortgage raised our monthly payment into an impound account to pay the taxes by 100%. Of course we voted for that initiative. Our property taxes returned to their previous level the following year.
The power of one third of the legislature to determine the fate of this state’s fiscal condition was a well meaning but ill advised effort to control spending during the Great Depression. California has failed to balance its budget for at least four successive years. The public will feel the effect of this situation starting Monday, February 2, 2009 when public services are drastically reduced.
There really is only one way to change this situation. The state constitution needs to be revised. The Sacramento Bee reports that a Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) state wide survey indicates 54% of “believe that it is a “good idea” to change the two-thirds majority to a 55 percent majority.” I will gladly stand in front of Von’s and CVS to obtain the needed signatures.
Coast Contact 