Help save California from budget gridlock

Letter

By on Wed, March 3, 2010

Please take ten minutes to join us in an effort that we think can save the State of California from budget gridlock and cuts to essential services, and restore Democracy to California.  The California Democracy Act, a volunteer, grassroots effort, that is not backed by any special interest money whatsoever, is fourteen words long; probably the shortest initiative petition in state history:

"All legislative actions on revenue and budget must be determined by a majority vote."

This simple initiative would end the 2/3 rule that has left the state in the hands of a minority of legislators who have prevented the government from doing what it was created to do: protecting and empowering its resident. This has resulted in a tyranny of the minority.

Here’s what you can do to help:

Download the petition and print it (do not shrink or enlarge it; print it only at 100%, single sided, on white, 8.5" X 11" paper only) sign the petition and send it to the campaign (instructions provided) send the petition to your friends, urging them to support this measure. 

We must collect over a million signatures by April 5, and we need everyone’s help.

 

We have been working very hard to get this initiative on the ballot because the 2/3 rule is largely responsible for the deterioration of California—K-12 education, the state colleges and universities, the state parks, the social service net, the transportation infrastructure—the list goes on of essential services that are not getting adequate funding. 

California could raise money by taxing oil extraction (as they do in Texas and Alaska), taxing the super-rich (the state has more than its share) and other measures that would not burden most of us.  But as few as 14 people in the State Senate can stop any of these progressive actions—and they do, over and over again.

The initiative process was intended to enable people to participate directly in government, but was commandeered by big business.  Can we prevail against the odds?  You can help make history!  Please sign the petition! Time is of the essence.  After April 5, it will be too late to get on the November ballot and we will need to start all over again.  And California just can’t wait.