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Friday, January 29, 2010

Supermajority's not-so-golden rule - Sherry Bebitch Jeffe - POLITICO.com

Supermajority's not-so-golden rule - Sherry Bebitch Jeffe - POLITICO.com:

"Congratulations, Sen.-elect Scott Brown. Welcome to Sacramento on the Potomac.

Californians have lived through years of government gridlocked by rules that require a supermajority to pass bills in a Legislature ripped by partisanship.

Washington could now mirror the Golden State’s breathtaking dysfunction.

Look what California’s supermajority rules, coupled with ideological rigidity, have led to. Last year’s state budget had to cut roughly 30 percent of the General Fund, slashing health, welfare, education, transit and more. California’s once-unparalleled system of “free” higher education had to hike student fees (32 percent at the University of California) and force faculty layoffs. The state’s celebrated roadways are ranked second-worst in the nation. Its credit rating tanked."