California Politcs/Budget Crisis

Summary

One of the major reasons for the enduring political crisis in California is that the state budget and major decisions on tax increases have to be passed by the two-thirds supermajority . California is the only state to require the supermajority in both scenarios , while only two other states require two-thirds of votes to take decisions on budgets . It appears that the only way to make California 's politics functioning again is to replace the supermajority with the simple majority . At the moment , the entire state is seen as being held hostage

to special interest represented by the Republican Party that vociferously opposes any tax raises . However , eliminating the two-thirds rule does not automatically mean that taxes have to be increased : California 's legislators would have to carefully consider the effects on the state economy before doing so . Yet spending cuts in the public sector and rollback of social programs , which is the option favored by Governor Schwarzenegger , is also not the most optimal . Instead , the government of California should focus on boosting employment and economic growth in to collect more revenues . The green industry as well as professional , scientific and technical services should be seen as the priority , as they are already delivering job market growth . In general , California 's entrepreneurial and highly educated workforce will be the driver of the recovery . Support should be provided to manufacturing workers that had been laid off in terms of requalification and assistance in finding work in a different sector . Efforts...