"Calif. ponders constitutional rewrite; But some call the effort a ruse to raise taxes" by Beth Fouhy, Associated Press | April 24, 2009
SAN CARLOS, Calif. - Fed up with the budget crises and partisan battles that have paralyzed California for years, some influential voices believe it is time to tear up the state constitution and start anew.
Once dismissed as a hokey gimmick, support for a proposed constitutional convention has been building in the nation's most populous state. Even Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, has indicated he would back an effort to retool the document to make state government function more smoothly.
Opponents of the step say it is just a ruse to raise taxes and could expose the constitution to a host of ideological and special-interest-driven changes.
Is it just me? The first group I thought of?
I'll give you one happy guess (if you know what I mean).
Indeed, constitutional conventions have not been embraced in other states in recent years. In 2008 voters in Hawaii, Connecticut, and Illinois soundly rejected similar proposals.
Related: Connecticut's Constitutional Convention
Yeah, it's just me, right.
Supporters of the constitutional convention want to put a proposal on the November 2010 ballot that would narrowly focus the convention on budget reform and a few other specific matters. Divisive social issues like gay marriage would be excluded.
At first, anyway.
At issue is the requirement that a two-thirds vote of the California Legislature is needed to pass the state's budget and tax increases. California is one of just a handful of states requiring such a supermajority, and most years it leads to a weeks-long budget impasse. Convention backers want to drop the two-thirds majority rule to 55 percent.
Yup, all about RAISING TAXES!
The budget situation was particularly acute this year, as the state nearly went broke while lawmakers locked horns over how to close a projected $42 billion gap. Schwarzenegger signed a budget agreement in February, but it will not go into effect unless voters approve several provisions of the agreement in a special election scheduled for May 19. Polls show the ballot measures will probably fail, throwing the state back into fiscal chaos.
"Look anywhere in California and you'll find a crisis," John Grubb of the Bay Area Council, a San Francisco business organization spearheading the constitutional convention effort, said. "Our education system used to be the best in the country; now we're 49th or 50th. Our transit network is the worst in the nation, our water system is on the verge of collapse, and our prison system is overflowing. The Legislature is responsible, and they aren't able to do their jobs."
That's odd, because here in Massachusetts (and America at large) the minute you swing your legs out from the bed you are in crisis mode.
That might explain the erratic postings on a daily basis: I'm decrisising!
And notice the inference is always RAISE TAXES?!!
You know what?
I WANT the TRILLIONS in WAR LOOT and BANK BAILOUTS back!!!
You can USE THAT MONEY, Californians!!!!!
Interest in the proposed constitutional convention has been growing. A February meeting in Sacramento to discuss it drew several hundred attendees. Another meeting last week outside Los Angeles, organized by several local chambers of commerce, drew broad interest.
Well, I'm tired of the selectivity of the MSM when it comes to the causes (they ignore antitax all the time) and the agenda-pushing that comes with it.
State Senator George Runner, a Republican, spoke out against the proposal at that meeting.
"If the purpose is to make it easier to raise taxes, there will never be an agreement," Runner said, adding he was concerned about who would be chosen as delegates to the convention.
"California is a very diverse state," he said. "I can't think of anything more emotional or controversial than choosing who the delegates would be to rewrite the state's constitution."
Wow. We got a line (in the back!) in the MSM s***-shoveling piece. Yay.
Organizers are proposing that 200 people serve as delegates, including 80 elected officials from across the state.
Who appointed them king?
In addition to budget reform, supporters want to change the constitution to allow nonpartisan, or open, primaries in hopes that more moderates will be elected to the Legislature.
The first part encouraged me -- until I realized they want pro-taxers. That's what we call "moderates" around here.
They are also proposing that the constitution allow local governments to collect and spend tax revenues, rather than have them centrally controlled by the state.
Now THAT I LIKE!
Figures it is the LAST SENTENCE of the LAST PARAGRAPH in the piece!!!
Selective censorship and issue emphasis from the MSM once again, can you believe it?
--more--"
Let's go to something they can't f*** up:
LONG BEACH, Calif. - Glass shattered and ceiling tiles fell as a moderate tremor shook laid-back Southern California, rattling residents' nerves and reminding them they need to update earthquake emergency plans.
No significant damage or major injuries were reported but the Greater Los Angeles region vibrated for about 10 to 15 seconds Sunday night and the tremor was felt as far south as San Diego, said Susan Hough, a seismologist at the US Geological Survey. "This was a serious jolt," Hough said.
The magnitude-4.7 earthquake was centered about 10 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles and 3 miles east of Los Angeles International Airport, according to the US Geological Survey.
"First thing I thought was 'Is this the big one?' It was pretty powerful," said Long Beach resident Tom Oswalt, 46. "My first thought was to get out of the building, get my dog and get out of the building."
Related: California Getting Ready For Big One?
With Mexico following up with one days later, that fault line could be making a shift -- and Obama can declare martial law over a national emergency (tx, W).
At least 10 aftershocks had followed by yesterday, with the largest registering magnitude-3.1. Sunday's shock was one of the most powerful earthquakes Carel McEachern had felt during her four decades in Long Beach. "It didn't get me out of the house, but after it was over, we all wandered out in the street and asked around and we all agreed it was the strongest one in a long time," said McEachern, 58....
--more--"Update (on the tax vote):
"Calif. must trim budget by $21.3b" by Associated Press | May 21, 2009
WASHINGTON - Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California said yesterday that he's heard "loud and clear" a voter message to take care of deficits through budget cuts alone, without passing additional costs along to them.
GOOD FOR YOU, Californians!!!!!!
Voters on Tuesday resoundingly rejected Schwarzenegger's package of budget-balancing measures that he promised would temporarily fix the state's financial crisis. Instead, he now faces a $21.3 billion budget deficit.
They mean voters REJECTED HIGHER TAXES -- as we ALWAYS DO, even here in Massachusetts (despite what the lying, pro-tax, agenda-pushing Globe says).
Schwarzenegger said the state's residents have had to sell off motorcycles, second cars, and hold garage sales to make ends meet in recent months. Now they're telling state officials that the government has to shrink, too.
:-)
"Don't to come to us for extra help. That was the message," Schwarzenegger said. "And you know something, I appreciate that when you hear that from the people. It gives us a chance to go and adjust, and say 'OK, we went in the wrong direction. Now let's go in the right direction, and let's go do what the people want.' "
END the FUCKING WARS and DON'T START ANYMORE!!!!!!!!!
Still, Schwarzenegger said the budget cuts to come may be more painful than California voters realize. While they may not want to pay more for services, they can't say specifically which services they would pare, he said. He said cuts will certainly come from education, healthcare, and the prison system.
Of course! Corporate welfare and pilfering politicians are off limits.
--more--"
As for the solutions, let's just not worry about the state indoctrina, 'er, inculca, um, brainwash, no, that's not it, the ejerkashen system; get Sicko for the healthcare; and jettison the foolish drug laws. That's a start.
