California – back to the drawing board

SACRAMENTO — California's government is so broken it can be fixed only by rewriting the state constitution, a coalition of business and civic groups said Wednesday as it filed language for two ballot initiatives that would begin the process.

The coalition, Repair California, wants to put the questions on the November 2010 ballot. The first initiative would amend the constitution to give voters the right to call a convention. If that passes, a second initiative spells out how more than 450 delegates would be selected and what they would discuss.

The topics include how to fix the state's budgeting and ballot initiative processes, reducing the influence of special interests in elections, restoring the balance of power between state and local governments, and establishing ways to make government more efficient.

But Assemblyman Dan Logue, R-Linda, said he had initial reservations.

"You just never know what special interest groups are going to get involved with something like that and make it their own," he said. "I think if the state legislature did its job the way it's supposed to, there wouldn't be a need to reform our constitution."

Backers of the idea said the time to wait for that to happen is over.

"California has become the laughingstock of our country," said Jim Wunderman, president of the Bay Area Council, a group that represents San Francisco-area businesses and is spearheading the reform effort. "The damage our state government is causing by not acting on the crisis in our state — in our education system, in our prisons, our water system, our budgeting system, our local governments and our economy — well, it's not funny. It's tragic."

Topics such as gay marriage, the death penalty and immigration will not be part of the debate. The panel also would be prohibited from proposing taxes or fees.

Three delegates would be chosen from each of California's 80 Assembly districts, for a total of 240. Another 221 would be appointed by local government leaders from throughout the state, while four delegates would come from federally recognized American Indian tribes in California.

The Fair Political Practices Commission, a political watchdog agency whose members are appointed by the governor, attorney general, secretary of state and controller, would enforce the rules and oversee the convention. Wunderman estimated the convention itself would cost $50 million to $75 million.

Supporters need to gather enough signatures to qualify the initiatives for next year's ballot. If they succeed and the propositions are approved, the convention process is expected to take nearly two years, possibly culminating in a November 2012 ballot initiative that would ask voters to approve the changes.

Wunderman said there is little chance the state will have worked out its multiple challenges by then.

"I would hope that some of the problems will go away, but it's not our expectation," he said.

Momentum for major government reform has accelerated over the past year, as California's economy has tanked and its lawmakers have appeared increasingly inept.

Among the efforts to reform state government is one started by the Legislature itself. The Democratic leaders of the Assembly and Senate have appointed a committee that began hearings this month.

Logue said a reform of state government, if it gets off the ground, should center on reducing regulatory burdens and stimulating economic development, as well as eliminating unfunded mandates for local governments and giving them more powers.

"We need to stop the tax and spend, and live within our means," he said.

Bob Stern, president of the Los Angeles-based Center for Governmental Studies, said the toughest challenge will likely be persuading Californians to pass whatever recommendations emerge from the convention. Voters approve fewer than a third of all ballot initiatives.

"Is it the sexiest thing in the world? Obviously, it's not. But I think if this convention can show they're really serious, they represent all of Californians, I think there'll be overwhelming support for it," he said.

Appeal-Democrat reporter Ben van der Meer contributed to this report.