California's possible solution to partisan politics
By Dan Balz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, June 5, 2010
California Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado (R) minced no words when he talked about changing the polarized politics that he said are killing his state. "The system we have today is taking our Golden State to its knees," he said. "It's frankly embarrassing."
Few Californians would disagree that their state is in a terrible mess and that gridlock and partisanship in Sacramento have contributed to it. Whether people agree with Maldonado's prescription for change will be answered Tuesday, when voters will decide the fate of a ballot proposal -- Proposition 14 -- that would dramatically change the way political candidates are nominated.
Proposition 14 calls for the elimination of the party primaries that now select candidates for the general election. In their place, California would institute a new system that would put all candidates for the state legislature, Congress and statewide office on the same primary ballot open to all voters. The top two finishers, regardless of party, would advance to the November general election.
As in Washington, Sacramento is a bitterly divided capital. The partisan divisions, along with structural impediments requiring supermajorities to raise taxes, have left the state's finances in a shambles. Prop 14 is the latest attempt to create a more hospitable environment for moderates in the two parties to come together in the center.
(More here.)
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, June 5, 2010
California Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado (R) minced no words when he talked about changing the polarized politics that he said are killing his state. "The system we have today is taking our Golden State to its knees," he said. "It's frankly embarrassing."
Few Californians would disagree that their state is in a terrible mess and that gridlock and partisanship in Sacramento have contributed to it. Whether people agree with Maldonado's prescription for change will be answered Tuesday, when voters will decide the fate of a ballot proposal -- Proposition 14 -- that would dramatically change the way political candidates are nominated.
Proposition 14 calls for the elimination of the party primaries that now select candidates for the general election. In their place, California would institute a new system that would put all candidates for the state legislature, Congress and statewide office on the same primary ballot open to all voters. The top two finishers, regardless of party, would advance to the November general election.
As in Washington, Sacramento is a bitterly divided capital. The partisan divisions, along with structural impediments requiring supermajorities to raise taxes, have left the state's finances in a shambles. Prop 14 is the latest attempt to create a more hospitable environment for moderates in the two parties to come together in the center.
(More here.)
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