Part-time legislature idea gains momentum

Written by CA Political News on August 31, 2009, 11:28 AM

Part-time legislature idea gains momentum

By Jim Boren, Freesno Bee, 8/30/09

There was a time when my columns advocating returning to a part-time legislature in California would generate letters and e-mails suggesting that my idea was part of the loony fringe. But it seems this wacky idea is now taking off, and some California politicians are making it a part of their stump speeches.

When Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner added the call for a part-time legislature to his speech in San Diego recently, it got the biggest applause of the night. State Sen. Jeff Denham, R-Atwater, a lieutenant governor candidate, has introduced a constitutional amendment for a part-time legislature.

But here's how you really know the idea is getting traction. Defenders of the status quo in Sacramento are so worried about a part-time legislature that they're enlisting critics in a campaign to punch holes in the proposal. They wouldn't do that if people weren't taking it seriously.

Former Assembly Speaker Willie Brown wrote a column in the San Francisco Chronicle saying a part-time legislature is bad for many reasons, including giving more power to the governor. He says just get better people in office and all will be good in California.

If only we could. Does he think we're trying to elect people who will bankrupt the state?

I've watched California government operate for four decades in my many roles at the newspaper, and I've tried not to be a government basher. But you can't make an objective assessment of the California Legislature without noting the many policy failings of California lawmakers.

Let's start with an inability to get a balanced budget on time. This occurred during good economic times and just got worse during the latest financial meltdown. State lawmakers have ducked the toughest issues, including solving the state water crisis, fixing an out-of-date transportation system and improving our underperforming public schools.

They can't even fix a state law so California schools will be eligible for millions of dollars in federal education funding.

Now this was all done by a full-time legislature. This model has been a massive failure, and it's time to return to part-time status. That would put lawmakers more in touch with real-world California.

I agree that this restructuring of the California Legislature appears to have a gimmicky quality that is embraced by those who don't like anything government does. Those who hate government are wrong. Unfortunately, California lawmakers have given them many reasons to believe government doesn't work.

My call for a part-time legislature is as much about shaking up California politics as it is about finding the right government structure for the state. Lawmakers think they are untouchable, and changing their status would make them a bit more attentive to public policy.

So while a part-time legislature may be seen as a gimmick, the symbolism of the public actually making a change would be huge. Getting the attention of representatives and the special interests who fund them can have a positive impact on policy.

There are other needed reforms, including dumping the two-house legislature and going to a unicameral system. We don't need a redundant Assembly and Senate. One gridlocked house is fine, thank you. And once the redistricting changes are in place, let's do away with the term limits that have given us inept lawmakers. We also need to reduce the requirement to pass a state budget from two-thirds of the legislators to 55%.

But first, let's start with a part-time legislature.