Budgets, Referendums

I have two suggestions that I would appreciate intelligent voters or intelligent politicians (are those last two words compatible?) addressing:

Federal budget: Congress has for years ignored the law by not delivering its budget proposal on time. Yet, within my memory, presidents have met their legal obligation by presenting their budget proposals on time. Why not a constitutional amendment stating that if Congress is delinquent, the president’s budget becomes law? Perhaps the president should have the freedom to give Congress one extension--if deserved in the president’s opinion.

State referendums: Why not tighten the qualifying requirement by making petition signatures of 10%, 15% or even 20% of the last election’s number of voters? Perhaps even 25% or 30%. That would make initiators think hard about employing professional signature gatherers at $1 per signature.

P.E. MORGAN

Santa Ana