Making California solvent
Let's stop lurching from budget crisis to budget crisis and completely restructure the state.
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An interesting thing happened on June 8: Some 75% of the local measures on ballots around California passed. Throughout the state, voters said loudly and clearly that they are willing to pay for quality public investments in such things as education, healthcare and transportation — as long as they know how the money will be spent and who is accountable.
What does that tell us as we struggle to balance our state budget? Plenty.
I am now involved in my 10th state budget — my fifth as a principal negotiator — and the core issues have been the same each year. Democrats have fought to maintain investments in education, health, public safety and infrastructure — investments I believe are necessary to provide essential services, create jobs and expand the state's economy. Republicans (most of whom also care about public investments) reflexively exclaim, "No new taxes, no new revenue." They prefer cuts to schools, infrastructure and services for children, the sick and the elderly. Since it takes a two-thirds supermajority vote to pass new taxes and fees, we historically have had to address budget gaps as
What does that tell us as we struggle to balance our state budget? Plenty.
I am now involved in my 10th state budget — my fifth as a principal negotiator — and the core issues have been the same each year. Democrats have fought to maintain investments in education, health, public safety and infrastructure — investments I believe are necessary to provide essential services, create jobs and expand the state's economy. Republicans (most of whom also care about public investments) reflexively exclaim, "No new taxes, no new revenue." They prefer cuts to schools, infrastructure and services for children, the sick and the elderly. Since it takes a two-thirds supermajority vote to pass new taxes and fees, we historically have had to address budget gaps as
