Momentum for a constitutional convention in the Golden State got underway in August 2008, when business leaders from the Bay Area Council took a trip to Sacramento and found the state in the throes of a now-familiar budget crisis. They determined that only a state constitutional convention could cure its chronic structural problems. “At times of dysfunction such as this there tends to be a ‘throw the bums out’ impulse,” says John Grubb of Repair California, the civic group backed by the Bay Area Council that is pushing for the constitutional convention. “But we believe that if you throw these bums out, the next set of bums will have the same problems. That’s because the system is broken.” By using California’s ballot-initiative process, Repair California is bypassing the state legislature and putting the question of a constitutional convention to voters in November 2010.I guarantee you the main objective of any California constitutional convention is to make it easier for the legislature to raise taxes. Any other reason is a smokescreen.
California’s last constitutional convention took place in 1879, but the governing document has been amended 512 times since then through a combination of legislative action and ballot initiatives, which have contributed to the cost and dysfunction of state government. The document ballooned to over 75,000 words at one point, and it now authorizes 389 boards, commissions, and agencies with overlapping jurisdictions. This guarantees gridlock as well as the waste of taxpayer dollars.
Repair California’s proposed remedies include governance reform to strengthen the executive branch, budget reforms to rein in spending, and revenue distribution between state and local governments to prevent unfunded mandates. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, along with every major candidate to succeed him, supports a constitutional convention—with the notable exception of state insurance examiner Steve Poizner, a Republican who so far remains noncommittal on the issue.
Our current system makes it very difficult to raise taxes and that has caused significant frustration to the Democrats who haven't been able to fund their every whim on the backs of the taxpayers.
Granted there are lots of other problems with the current constitution that need to be fixed, but once you open the door to tinkering with the document a lot of safeguards will get lost along the way
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Rick,
"I guarantee you the main objective of any California constitutional convention is to make it easier for the legislature to raise taxes."
Glad to see fellow citizens concerned for the future of their state. However, with all due respect I must take issue with your claim.
Under the model for delegate selection being proposed, only average Californians (and not politicians) would serve as delegates. I do not believe average people like taxes, and I would be very surprised that they would vote to raise their own taxes.
Also, I would be very surprised to learn that business groups and conservative groups, like the Orange County Lincoln Club, were conspiring to raise taxes.
There will be a Town Hall event (co-sponsored by the OC Lincoln Club) in Orange County on September 2. Attend if you can. Listen and let your voice be heard! Register here at:
http://www.repaircalifornia.org/oc.php
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