With the likelihood that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will call a special statewide election for late next year to put a state government reform package before voters, the battle now begins among interest groups and politicians over just what reform proposals will make it onto that ballot.
Schwarzenegger has said he supports taking the redistricting process out of the hands of the Democrat-controlled Legislature and he has expressed support for a stricter state spending cap. He’s also said he would put on the ballot other reforms from a massive proposed overhaul of state government if the Legislature decides not to act on them.
But the governor is likely to face competing pressures as details of these proposals are hammered out. Incumbent Republican legislators,whose votes Schwarzenegger would need to pass a budget,might resist redistricting reform that could throw them out of office.
Schwarzenegger hasn’t said whether he would endorse a redistricting initiative from Ted Costa, “godfather” of last year’s recall election,which would hand the power to redraw legislative districts to a panel of retired judges. That initiative received clearance earlier this month to begin gathering signatures.
Costa’s measure could run into legal trouble, since it would also redraw congressional district boundaries. The U.S. Supreme Court recently remanded to a lower court a plan from Texas Republican lawmakers to redraw congressional districts in that state for the second time in a decade.
Meanwhile, a coalition of conservative groups is considering gathering signatures for an initiative to limit the annual growth of the state budget. The coalition includes the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, the California Taxpayers Association and state Sen.-elect John Campbell, R-Irvine.
Schwarzenegger proposed a nearly identical spending cap last December, only to agree to a watered-down proposal from Democrats that became Proposition 56 on the ballot last March. Schwarzenegger has not yet endorsed the taxpayer groups’ initiative effort.
As for the report on overhauling the state government, timing is crucial. Schwarzenegger has said he prefers legislative action, which might not happen until the end of next summer. By then, it would be too late to take those reforms to a vote of the people in 2005.
Complicating matters: the prospect of an initiative banning driver licenses for illegal immigrants. Supporters of that measure have until March to collect at least 600,000 signatures. If successful, that initiative automatically goes onto the next statewide ballot.
The chief concern for Schwarzenegger and state government reform advocates is that such a measure could drive thousands of predominantly Democrat Latinos to the polls and create a much more partisan atmosphere.
What’s more, Schwarzenegger antagonized many Latinos with his recent veto of a bill allowing driver licenses for illegal immigrants.
The bill’s author, Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, said he intends to reintroduce an identical bill this session, ensuring that the debate will be kept alive next year in Sacramento.
Fine is a staff writer with the Los Angeles Business Journal.
