Local politicians at the forefront of a new movement to help end the morass that is California’s state budget say some change may come by September.
Local politicians at the forefront of a new movement to help end the morass that is California’s state budget say some change may come by September. Leaders of the group California Forward include former state Senator and Secretary of State Bruce McPherson and former Assemblyman Fred Keeley, now county treasurer. They say that if the state legislature and the governor do not approve new proposals by the end of December, California Forward could put measures on next year’s ballot. Suggested reforms include lowering the threshold for passing the state budget from the current two-thirds majority.
A simple majority vote, said Keeley, “would have cut less deeply into education, health and human services.” Jean Ross of the California Budget Project warns, however, that unless the reduced budget requirement is matched by a commensurate lowering of the threshold to pass new taxes, future budgets will continue to be balanced primarily through cuts.
Read more at the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
