It is no secret that California is ailing. What is needed is a California political reform act for 2011 and beyond. The state is mired in a roughly $10 billion budget deficit which as recently as January was at a staggering $26 billion. Through a round of budget cuts and tax increases fueled by the budget vote reform of proposition 25, lawmakers have significantly reduced the state deficit. However, $10 billion is still a serious amount of money and can potentially drag the state into further deficit spending. Infrastructure is falling apart and California’s position as a premier destination for the world’s best and brightest is now threatened.
To get California back in the black there has to be further political reform and the appetite for political change has to grow. The status quo has clearly failed the state. Change must be mandated now. Below are three suggestions to help get the state get back on track. Hopefully these policies can serve as the basis of a new California political reform act for the future.