Proposition to Help Get a Budget Passed

A lot of scary nonsense about Proposition 56 is being scattered by opponents of the measure. California law requires a 67% approval in both houses of the Legislature to pass any money bill. So a bloc of just 34% can say, in effect, “Do it our way or you’ll still be trying to pass a budget next Christmas.” The two-thirds requirement has resulted in annual budget impasses with dismal regularity.

Proposition 56 would scale back the requirement for passage from 67% to 55%, still a super-majority but no longer a virtually impossible majority. That strikes me as a good idea. The measure would in no way disturb the sacred inequities of Proposition 13. Would it result in higher taxes? Only if a majority (with at least a 10-point margin) of the Legislature and the governor approved. That seems a lot closer to democracy than allowing a 34% minority to call the shots.

Harrison Stephens

Claremont