Sen Diane Feinstein has endorsed Governor Schwarzenegger's Ballot Initiatives, Propositions 57 & 58.
Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi hasn't endorsed the measures, but thinks they are "unfortunately" necessary.
What is it about Washington that dissolves bones and gels brains?
Poll Info
The poll is presented as an either/or, since it doesn't make sense to vote for 56 and for 57/58.
I am opposed to both propositions 57 and 58.
California's problems won't be solved by another $15B in bonds. All that money does is get Gov AS re-elected for not raising taxes.
Prop 58 puts a ceiling on the budget, and generally makes it impossible to do what is required for our schools, universities and health care facilities.
All of this from the man who posed as the schools' best friend a few years ago. Remember Ahnold's after school program doesn't go into effect if there's no money for it. It's just like NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND that way.
The solution is Prop 56.
This proposition reduces the super-majority voting requirement from 2/3 to 55%. Slightly more than a majority in the Legislature would be able to adopt a budget.
Had this rule been in effect during the last 20 years or so, there never would have been any of the annual budget deadlocks in Sacramento. There has always been a majority in favor of the budget, under both Democratic and Republican Governors.
The trouble is a few die-hard ultra-right Senators and Assembly members, who have used the 2/3 requirement to block any settlement. The Republicans have used their power to threaten and discipline members. Prop 56 explicitly prohibits this sort of behavior.
Rights of the Majority
For decades, we have been very attentive to the rights of the minority. Republicans complain that Democrats ignored them. In fact, California's Democratic majority have bent over backwards to accomodate the minority. That's why the government doesn't work anymore.
The minority are using our sympathy and respect for them to make it impossible for anyone but them to govern. So, in many cases, we have government by and for the minority, forgetting about "of" the majority.
When things get to the point that the majority cannot govern, something needs to be changed. I think we need to emphasize and recognize the right of the majority to govern. Washington Republicans were quick to grab this idea and run with it. They've shut out the Democrats; so much for their respect of the minority.
Now, here in California, we need to learn from those experiences. The Democratic majority has the right and responsibility to govern.
The way to bring this about is
VOTE YES ON PROP 56
VOTE NO ON PROP 57 and 58
Remember, Prop 57 & 58 are Ahnold's handiwork. We have two advantages:
- They must pass together to be operative
- Most Californians are opposed to them
What about Feinstein & Pelosi?
I think we need to bombard their offices with phone calls, letters, e-mails and such.
Even if the Legislative Democrats put props 57 & 58 on the ballot, many of them oppose it and very few endorse those measures. This wasn't something intended for Democratric endorsements.
I note that Sen Feinstein endorsed Sen Kerry. She also voted for the War and the Medicare bill.
Rep Pelosi endorsed Rep Gephardt.
I supported them for years, even enthusiastically. But now I think we need to ask these ladies to get a life.