4 ms·
It's easy to blame this issue on California's politicians, but the problem is the way the system is set up. The way California's budget process works, we have
by iamelgringo 18y ago
It's easy to blame this issue on California's politicians, but the problem is the way the system is set up.
The way California's budget process works, we have to have a super-majority to pass a budget, tax increase or cut. So, if the minority party can get 34% of the vote, they can block a budget from being passed.
Couple that with a bug in the system that allows politicians to put a budget item on a ballot initiative. If it passes, it must be funded.
So, it's easier to amend our state constitution (simple majority on a ballot initiative) than it is to pass a budget (67% legislature vote).
And, our revenue base is weighted heavily on sales taxes and income taxes as opposed to property taxes (because of ballot initiatives), and we have really big boom/bust cycles in our tax revenue. It's amazing that California does as well as it does with such a ham-strung system.
- spkthed 18y agoIt's not partisan differences or the system holding things back, California has a Democrat majority with the votes (24 out of 40) to push things through. Voters there are polling at a 1/3 approval rating for raising taxes. The majority just doesn't want to be the ones responsible for cutting programs or raising taxes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Senate http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Senate In addition, their bond ratings are pretty low, they have the lowest rating of any state. The net result of that is that borrowing money becomes much more expensive and the cycle escalates. http://articles.latimes.com/2009/feb/04/local/me-budget4 http://articles.latimes.com/2009/feb/04/local/me-budget4 You can't run programs with deficits forever, eventually you have to raise taxes or cut funding. Neither are popular positions to have but they are necessary.