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Article: Democrats want to lower threshold needed to pass budget.(Fixing The System--California Finally Takes Stock)
- Article from:
- Los Angeles Business Journal
- Article date:
- August 18, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 CBJ, L.P. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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It's s not easy to pass a budget that requires a two-thirds majority of the state legislature. So why not lower the threshold?
A Democratic-led coalition is trying to do just that through an initiative that would lower the required legislative majority to 55 percent. It would also penalize legislators for failing to pass a budget by the June 15 constitutional deadline, chiefly by docking their pay.
"It makes sense because it prevents a minority from controlling the majority or holding the state hostage," said Assembly Budget Chairwoman Jenny Oropeza, D-Long Beach.
As of last week, nearly 700,000 signatures had been gathered, according to Andrew ...