A More Permanent Way to Get the Next Vote

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

A new AP story came down the wire today about possible changes to the budget process.  As this fits well with the discussion on mbayrob's diary, I thought we should keep talking.  So, as the AP sees it, 5 things can happen:

1. Change to a simple majority vote
2. Use spending priorities which would automatically cut funds from lower priorities if necessary
3. Tighten deadlines elsewhere in the process.
4. Make 2/3 Rule apply elsewhere in the process.
5. Change the tax structure to allow more local control
6. Penalize tardiness using innovative penalties (sort of miscellany)

Obviously, I've made my opinion on this clear already: we need to return to democracy by returning to the majority vote requirement. Read the whole story for more details.  Also, we could combine some of these options.  Senator Perata has said he supports reforming the tax structure.  There are many reasonable options, but what is becoming abundantly clear is that the status quo is not one of them.