Editorial Board | Santa Rosa Press-Democrat | Mar. 10, 2010
“California is ungovernable.”
The words were spoken more than 20 years ago by political strategist Stu Spencer, long before the state's budget crisis became perpetual and 11-figure deficits became routine. And, with reform efforts losing momentum, there's more reason than ever to share Spencer's bleak assessment.
A once-promising bid to convene a constitutional convention ended four weeks ago, thwarted by a lack of money and an apparent boycott by the initiative industry. Last week, California Forward said it can't afford to proceed with a signature drive for its bipartisan budget reform plan, which among other things would restore a degree of majority rule in the Legislature. Meanwhile, congressional Democrats and their allies in Sacramento are gearing up to fight California's new independent redistricting panel.