Political Jujitsu Would Reframe California's Budget Debate

Abstract

THE CALIFORNIA Journal of Politics & Policy Commentary Political Jujitsiu Would Reframe California’s Tax Debate Phil Trounstine and Jerry Roberts* www.Calbuzz.com Since 1912, when the first initiative appeared on the ballot in California, “no” has beaten “yes” two-thirds of the time. It is almost always more difficult to approve an initiative than it is to defeat one, which is why Gov. Jerry Brown and the California Democrats should, as a matter of political strategy, construct their ballot measure—to extend taxes and fees and prevent a doubling of the $12 billion in cuts they have already made—so that they can campaign for a “no” vote. We have referred to this as the Calbuzz Outside-the Box-Thinking Plan for Fiscal Integrity, Nuclear Safety and Peace in Our Time. Here’s how it would work: www.bepress.com/cjpp Volume 3, Issue 2, 2011 First, the Democrats would approve, by a majority vote if need be, a conditional all-cuts budget that presumes no tax extensions. Then, they would gather signatures to place that budget on the November ballot. The measure would include a provision that if the measure fails the cuts called for will not occur because the 2009 taxes and fees will be re-instated for five years. As a practical matter, cuts approved by the legislature before the end of June can be delayed to occur until No- vember. At the same time, those costs that are to be shifted to local government for local responsibilities can occur whether the measure wins or loses. This would set up a situation in which Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform, Jon Fleischman of FlashRe- port, radio disc jockeys John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou * Phil Trounstine and Jerry Roberts are the former political editors of the San Jose Mercury News and San Francisco Chronicle. They write regularly for their politi- cal news and analysis site, www.Calbuzz.com. A version of this article appeared on Calbuzz on March 23, 2011.