I found this over at the Courage Campaign.
Sign the pledge to repeal the 2/3rds rule to pass a budget
California is in crisis – and Republicans are using it as an opportunity to advance their radical right-wing agenda.
They are using the rule requiring a 2/3rds vote to pass a budget to hold the state hostage to their demands, which include eliminating worker rights and environmental protections, as they have for the last two years. The only way we can stop this undemocratic behavior for good – and give progressive policies like universal health care a chance to succeed – is to eliminate the 2/3rds rule.
Stopping huge, regressive tax hikes is a “radical right wing agenda”?
If the 2/3rds rule is repealed, what do you think we will be asking for back when/if republicans ever come to power? There are certain parts of our legislative system that are actually there for a reason, balance of power. Now, I am truly a liberal democrat, but I am also logical, it seems utterly ridiculous to me that one would even consider leaving something as important as a state budget to a simple majority.
47 other states have a simple majority rule. Going to a simple majority rule woul dmake Republicans irrelevant in this state.
Elections determine majorities, if they don’t perform they are voted out. Look at the national landscape that has turned reep, dem, reep, dem over the last 20 years. Voters should hold the ruling parties accountable. In California’s current system a small majority of ideologs can hold the entire state hostage.
Tax cuts or tax increase, cut spending or increase spending, these are the decisions we should hold our elected officials accountable for. The legislature should not be the place where a minority backed by party dollars control all our fates.
BTW, this goes for both sides of this ugly issue!