Could campaign finance reform help solve state's budget woes?

on May 19, 2009 11:25 PM Share:

AS I WRITE THIS, all the ballot propositions used to precariously piece together our state budget back in February are going down in flames. And none of us are surprised.

Too complicated for the average voter to understand, two undid the good work of previous propositions and one tinkered with the formula of another. Another enraged partisans on both sides of the aisle, which also doomed its companion measure.

It looks like only Prop.1F has passed, a token measure which keeps electeds from getting pay raises in budget deficit years. This would result in "minor savings," according to the Legislative Analyst's Office.

So it's back to the drawing board with a meeting of the "Big Five" legislative leaders again, which last time produced this ill-fated group of propositions and $10 billion in cuts to public schools. Since that time, though, the Republicans have nearly purged their leadership ranks of anyone reasonable.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's 2009-10 May Revision General Fund Proposals contain many ideas to plug the now $21.3 billion gap, including another $2.3 billion cut to schools, which will be partially offset by one-time federal stimulus money in certain categories.

While few will likely miss the Bureau of Naturopathic Medicine if it shuts down, many other proposals have already drawn fire, including one to override the normal regulatory processes and allow the first new offshore oil lease in 40 years off state waters near Santa Barbara and another to sell the Ventura County Fairgrounds.

IS CALIFORNIA REALLY ungovernable? The Economist magazine spells out a perfect storm of a two-thirds budget vote requirement and extreme partisanship nurtured by gerrymanded districts, all complicated by term limits and contrary voter-approved ballot initiatives which lock in funding. But it's nothing those of us who are paying attention didn't already know.

What is mentioned less often is that people whose jobs, livelihoods and power depend on special-interest cash are making the decisions for us. And while innate ideology would account for some of the decisions made in Sacramento, the real fear of being unable to raise enough money and support to be elected often drives politicians nationwide to make decisions they would not normally make if campaigns were publicly financed.

One only has to look at the very reasoned budget alternatives coming from the Legislative Analyst's Office to see that good sense and intellect can prevail in a non-partisan, non-threatening, non-special interest atmosphere.

Redistricting and open primaries, already in the pipeline, could help elect reasonable moderate candidates. There is talk of a constitutional convention. But until we have solid campaign finance reform, California's governing dysfunction will continue to be exacerbated by special-interest pressures.

There are two measures out there right now to address this issue and both deserve our support. The California Fair Elections Act will appear on the June 2010 ballot and another measure making its way through Congress, the Fair Elections Now Act, is already enjoying bipartisan support.

They can't come soon enough for California.

Theater company's budget drama

A toxic wonderland

96 Comments

By ImMadAsHellAndImNotGoingToTakeItAnymore on May 20, 2009 8:44 AM

Getting rid of the idiots on both side of the aislewill do the most to solve our budget crisis.

By Katie Teague on May 20, 2009 9:24 AM

The problem is the "idiots" spend an inordinate amount of money (special interest, tax payer money and campaign money) getting re-elected. Plus heaven forbid they get competition from within their own party!! Off with their heads and reputation!

By David Atkins on May 20, 2009 10:30 AM

Marie,

Good post, and we do need some campaign finance reform. That said, it won't really solve the problems we have here.

Really strict campaign finance reform will ensure that only wealthy people can get elected; moderate reform won't stop the unions and the chambers of commerce from holding inordinate influence.

Also, studies have shown that even gerrymandering reform and redistricting won't change the fact that people generally politically associate by affinity--and in fact, if you districted fairly according to likeminded and geographically sane principles, most districts really wouldn't change that much in terms of partisan breakdown. In fact, in many cases, they would become MORE partisan.

A budget problem involves spending and revenue. The vast majority of the increase in spending has come from the prison system. That's not a special interest problem; that's a stupid "tough on crime" voter problem. In terms of taxes, the fact that 2/3 is required to pass any tax statute is an insane and impossible requirement.

Ultimately, the problem resides almost SOLELY in the 2/3 budget and revenue increase requirement. California is the ONLY state to require 2/3 for both, and that is why we are uniquely screwed right now.

The voters have chosen elect 64% of the legislature as Democrats, and voted over 20% for Barack Obama. The voters in this state want good schools and a solid safety net, and they want the rich and the corporate to pay their fair share for a change.

And it's really impossible to know whether the Democrats would administer those policies competently or not, because the 2/3 requirement means that an extremist band of pathetically small minority of Republicans hold, in effect, the power of the purse in this state.

Eliminate 2/3, and you solve most of these problems--and give Democrats a chance to deliver or fall flat on their faces. And then who knows? Maybe the people will see fit to elect Republicans again.

They have no good reason to do so now.

By Marie on May 20, 2009 4:39 PM

No it won't solve the problems, but it will help tremendously and it is a politically viable option right now.

Remove the need to rely on big-money contributors with their access and influence and you have a candidate who is truly working for the people. The system we have now is broken, broken, broken.

Many areas have public campaign-financing programs: Arizona, Maine, Connecticut, Los Angeles, New York City and San Francisco all have this to some degree.

I don't think overturning the two-thirds IS politically viable. You may disagree.

Did you look at the federal and state legislation?

By Carol on May 20, 2009 6:04 PM

A huge problem with our legislature is TERM LIMITS! We were in much better shape when elected officials weren't looking for quick solutions to enhance their chances to move to another office after their terms were up. We have many rookies in Sacramento who never would have been elected had their more experienced colleagues not been ushered out (even if they knew what they were doing). We have a natural choice for limiting official's terms....it's our VOTE! Let's put in good people, allow them to forge good relations on both side of the aisle, and support their ability to come up with long term solutions for which they will have to answer.

By JMR on May 20, 2009 9:36 PM

Marie, the only thing that will save California is if they just go back to what they are supposed to do, spend only on infrastructure, not break the constitution by giving welfare out to those who are in this country illegally. handing out money to Unions, etc,, etc. Our Politicians are all idiots and it looks like CA is finally getting it. Look at the comments from the League of Women or Karen Bass, Californians were just confused and tooo stupid to get it!!

I heard you went door to door Marie, even ran into my family members pushing these PROPS that just failed.

Can you enlighten us on this. Since you are not the Partisan you try to explain to us you aren't??

What are you doing writing a blog for a newspaper if you can't keep your agenda in check? People are taking notice of your true agenda here.

Good luck California, you need it!

Campaign Reforms?? HAHAHA, what about PRESS REFORMS, so the press stops lying to people of this country, stops pushing issues it CHAMPIONS. Start telling the truth!

By Marie on May 20, 2009 10:03 PM

I was not doing any campaigning whatsoever for the propositions. I think you have mistaken me for somebody else. Further, I wrote a blog in fervent opposition to Prop. 1D.

I don't think anyone was doing field work locally for the propositions.

I write an opinion blog and allow other people to voice their opinions openly and freely as long as they don't violate my blog rules for harassment, obscenity, libel, etc. The Star encourages its bloggers to take a point of view, unlike its print reporters. It's a different medium altogether.

By skip on May 20, 2009 11:59 PM

I saw her too only she was selling tubs of cookie dough for her kid's school. Can you explain to us Marie how you advocate for healthy eating and then do this?

What are you doing writing a blog for a newspper if you can't keep your appetite and your school's budget in check?

By Brian Leshon on May 21, 2009 11:25 AM

Public funding of campaigns is very important. It removes the need for elected officials to spend more than four hours a day looking for money for the next election.

But David is right about the two thirds rule it is the culprit here allowing a extremely small bunch of Republicans to dictate to the majority of the state how things should be.

the other issue is the initiative process. The two thirds rule was put in by a ballot initiative. It locks in a third of our spending regardless of economic conditions. The process has been hijacked by different interest groups with lots of money to spend. Direct democracy looks on its face, but when you vote for projects that you want and then demand tax cuts at the same time you really don't understand what you are doing.

By Marie on May 21, 2009 10:31 PM

I still question whether changing the 2/3 is doable even with a Constitutional Convention. The 2/3 rule is also in place on dedicated municipal tax and bond measures, too.

My goal is to find moderate candidates who are not beholden to special interests. Common sense will follow.

Maybe that is not doable, either, on a statewide level.

By Marie on May 24, 2009 7:05 PM

If anybody else out there is interested in campaign finance reform go here:

http://www.youstreet.org/

These folks just contacted me and the information they present on this site is good.

We will all be talking about this in a year, as the California Fair Elections Act will be on the June 2010 ballot.

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