Opposition to Welfare Measure

In response to “Wilson Testing Appeal of Tying Benefits to Behavior,” Oct. 8:

I was disappointed in your article on Proposition 165. This lengthy article omitted mentioning that Gov. Wilson’s long, complicated, two-subject initiative significantly expands the governor’s powers to unprecedented and dangerous levels that would then become embedded into the state Constitution for all succeeding governors.

Proposition 165 would allow Wilson to cause a budget emergency and then assume exclusive control of state expenditures. He could reduce any state-supported service and ignore budget priorities established by the Legislature and neither the Legislature nor the courts could overturn the governor’s actions without his prior personal approval.

Under the unrestrained powers provided in Proposition 165, the governor could coerce the Legislature, regulatory agencies, local governments and the courts into submission by threatening to use the powers granted to him in Proposition 165.

JIM RYAN

Westminster