The big one hits California

Submitted by Soren Dayton on Fri, 02/20/2009 - 13:20

The California state legislature passed a budget this week. This was not expected because the fiscal problems that the state are so severe that the core interest groups in California could not be reconciled. Taxpayers and public employee unions can no longer even have the figleaf of agreement by issuing bonds, which had been Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's approach. And a 2/3rds majority is required by each body of the legislature to pass a budget.

Into the breach jumps State Senator Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria), a leader of one of the moderate factions in the state party. He supported -- and brought votes along with him -- the budget in exchange for a ballot initiative that would reform the primary system. The San Francisco Chronicle describes it:

A proposed constitutional amendment would go before voters in June 2010 instituting a "top-two" primary system, which would effectively eliminate party primary ballots, erase candidate party labels in primary elections and allow voters to choose the two candidates - of whatever party - who would compete in the general election.

In swing districts, it is likely that the top vote getters would be from each party. In districts that are highly partisan, as nearly all of the state legislative and Congressional districts are, there is the possibility that two Republicans or two Democrats could get on the general election ballot.

This could reduce the current party apparatus another interest group in the process, but not a dominant one. There is plenty of evidence that the parties hate it. Ron Nehring, the chair of the CA GOP said:

Ron Nehring, chairman of the state GOP, said the measure will "lead to further polarization."

Without a Republican or Democratic designated candidate on primary ballots, that means "in some areas, like San Francisco, you'll never, never see a Republican candidate on the general election or November ballot - meaning the Republican perspective is missing from the dialogue," he said. "And in parts of Orange County, Inland Empire ... you will never have a Democrat on the ballot," he said. "Is that a healthy thing? No, it's not."

The difference is that moderates in either party are more likely to get through to the general election ballot and stand better chances of winning -- assuming that they, in turn, don't factionalize too much. Why? Because "Decline to State" voters, what California calls independents, will also be more likely to be involved in the primary process. Candidates will stand more of a chance of building coalitions across the entire ideological spectrum.

If this passes in 2010, and the state continues with another highly-partisan/highly-ideological redistricting, the 2012 election could be quite interesting.

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Comments

Louisiana's system

Submitted by weslinder on Fri, 02/20/2009 - 14:14.

This is effectively very similar to Lousiana's system (although there have been modifications recently that I don't know about). You can use your own judgment about how well that works.

Fully agree with the previous

Submitted by pesocky on Fri, 05/15/2009 - 08:39.

Fully agree with the previous speaker

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Californiafreude

Submitted by Cahnman on Fri, 02/20/2009 - 14:33.

I'm sooooooooooooooo glad I don't live in L.A. anymore.

I am glad that I dont live

Submitted by tolo87 (not verified) on Wed, 05/13/2009 - 11:08.

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brought votes along with him

Submitted by markweee on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 01:47.

brought votes along with him -- the budget in exchange for a ballot initiative that would reform the primary system. The San Francisco Chronicle describes it: high school diploma online | online ged

e involved in the primary

Submitted by markweee on Fri, 07/30/2010 - 03:31.

e involved in the primary process. Candidates will stand more of a chance of building coalitions across the entire ideological spectrum.

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Does this pass Constitutional muster?

Submitted by Patrick Ruffini on Fri, 02/20/2009 - 14:59.

Granted, it's a Constitutional amendment, but I believe something vaguely similar to this was struck down before? And there was speculation that the Dems would go along with a poison pill open primary that wouldn't pass court scrutiny.

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Submitted by modthoa (not verified) on Tue, 05/19/2009 - 19:43.

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You got it wrong

Submitted by Hastings2010 on Sat, 02/21/2009 - 00:12.

decline to state voters ALREADY have the right to select a primary to vote in on election day. This will not make it any more likely that they will participate. All it will do is protect moderates, which is why Maldonado wants it. He voted for raising taxes, against his pledge, and now the party wants his head on a platter.

select a primary to vote in

Submitted by davidvilla on Mon, 05/25/2009 - 02:40.

select a primary to vote in on election day. This will not make it any more likely that they will participate. All it will do is protect moderates, which is why Maldonado wants it. He voted for raising taxes, against his pledge, and now the party wants his head on a platter. High School Diploma Online & Online Diploma

California passed a non-partisan redisctricting system in Nov.

Submitted by fengshui on Mon, 02/23/2009 - 18:17.

CA passed a non-partisan redistricting system in the November 2008 elections, so it's all going to be interesting either way:

http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=California_Proposition_11_(2008)

the Dems would go along with

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It is a big political

Submitted by time on Tue, 06/02/2009 - 00:03.

It is a big political strategic action.Thanks for helping me up.All it will do is protect moderates, which is why Maldonado wants it. He voted for raising taxes, against his pledge, and now the party wants his head on a platter.

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What would happen in

Submitted by nicoduca on Tue, 06/02/2009 - 11:14.

What would happen in California was hit by the Big One? New 3-D animations of a magnitude 7.8 earthquake scenario are now available to the public.Fourteen animations can be downloaded from the site in high definition format. The 3-D animations show, from the perspective of a several different Southern California locations, how intensely the ground would shake and shift during a very strong 7.8 earthquake with an epicenter on the southern end of the San Andreas Fault.The science-based earthquake scenario, developed by USGS scientists and partners, is used for both the Great Southern California ShakeOut drill on November 13 and the statewide Golden Guardian 2008 emergency response exercise from November 13 - 18.

The ShakeOut earthquake scenario animations provide a graphic tool for first responders, engineers, decision makers, Southern California residents and other members of the public to understand, visualize and prepare for the devastating effects, even far from the epicenter, of a large, damaging earthquake. The San Andreas Fault has produced earthquakes of this magnitude in the past and could again in the future.The USGS is also making available new broadcast-quality background interviews and footage of the San Andreas Fault-crossing Cajon Pass, a narrow corridor through the San Gabriel Mountains known as an important "lifeline corridor" where roads, railroads, water and energy pipelines, and electrical and communications infrastructure provide service to millions of residences, businesses, commuters and communities in Southern California. In the ShakeOut earthquake scenario, this narrow corridor would be greatly affected, as the 3-D animations also show. "The Great Southern California ShakeOut: An Earthquake Scenario Based On Science," is a USGS video production that shows how science is used by government agencies, emergency responders, policymakers, and the public to help build safer communities. It includes interviews with the USGS, the Office of Homeland Security, the City of Los Angeles, the County of Riverside, the California Governor's Office, the East Valley Water District, the Art Center College of Design, the County of San Bernardino, and a professor emeritus from Colorado State University.

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What made Kemp different is

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