GOP Should Give Democrats Enough Rope to Hang Themselves on the Budget

The California Constitution stands as a grand experiment in Progressivism. From the initiative process to the recall and referendum to the nonpartisan elected offices and judges -- to the two-thirds requirement to pass the budget -- the California Constitution perhaps goes further than any other state constitution in weakening elected officials, removing political accountability and driving out partisanship from state government and state politics.

In their place, the Progressive design of the California Constitution has encouraged the creation of a massive corps of bureaucratic "experts." If in doubt, consider the plight of someone wanting to build a home or start a business: It is much more important to know the folks on the local zoning board than members of the Legislature.

The solution to California's budget problems will not be found in Progressive policies like the two-thirds budget rule, wherein Democrats throw table scraps to Republicans. Rather, the solution must be emphatically political and partisan. Let Democrats pass a budget, and then let Republicans hammer at the way they spend our money.

If Republicans can show how liberal policies have caused the real harm we are suffering today, and explain what limited, constitutional government in California would look like, this could be the Republican recipe for winning elections up and down the state. All they need are the intelligence and political will to do it.

Thomas L. Krannawitter is vice president of the Claremont Institute.