A couple of ideas that Californians seriously need to consider moving forward:
-Abolish Proposition 13, which has kept property tax rates artificially low for thirty years. Property taxes go disproportionately to fund education, which has been cut or remained stagnant for the better part of Governor Schwarzenegger's term. In order for California to improve its education system, sacrifices must be made on the part of its taxpayers or we will no longer be a global leader in the 21st century.
-Make it more difficult to pass initiatives. Initiatives undermine the Legislature, which has now had its wings clipped with the recent passage of Proposition 11, so it should only be in special cases where the California electorate intervenes when its elected leaders fail to act. The myriad of initiatives that appear on the ballot every election have promoted a culture where the popular passions of the moment override the long-term interest (see Prop 8) and tie the hands of the Legislature to shape future budgets. Unfunded mandates now take up a huge portion of every year's budget, leaving lawmakers little discretion to cut funding on programs outside of education and healthcare. Perhaps the threshold for future initiatives should be fifty-five percent, and sixty percent for budget-related items (and a requirement to fund new spending).
-Extend term limits. Current law limits Assembly members to three two-year terms and Senators to two four-year terms. The term limits should be adjusted to allow for at least twelve years of continuous service in each chamber. While term limits can be valuable, currently lobbyists in Sacramento have more institutional memory than lawmakers. The new competitive districts allowed by Proposition 11 will allow for a more centrist and accommodating Legislature made up of professionals willing to reach across party lines to do what is right by California.
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