CA's Supermajority Requirement in Jeopardy?

Monday, September 22, 2008 4:30 PM

Unable to pass their tax increase proposals after 84 days of the budget stalemate, the longest in state history,  Democrats have turned their efforts towards eliminating the two-thirds supermajority requirement needed to pass state budget, a requirement created by a citizen initiative in 1979.

As one of only three states in the US which upholds this rule, it would be a serious step backwards for the Legislature of California to rewrite this taxpayer protection rule in order to continue amping up the spending.  Senate President Pro Tem Darrel Steinberg and Assembly Speaker Karen Bass are leading the invasion taxpayer protection and want to eliminate the supermajority rule in exchange for a mere 55% requirement.

It was the supermajority requirement, along with the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, that protected taxpayers from tax increases in this year's budget debate.

The attemt to do away with the supermajority requirement to pass the budget - an important taxpayer protection  - should raise a red flag to all taxpayers in the state.  This sentiment should be taken even more seriously in a state whose budget, according to Sacbee.com, has increased 40% in the last four years.

Click here to read more on supermajority requirements.

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