Gov. Schwarzenegger and his people will probably try to spin Tuesday's vote as the defeat of reform by special interests.
This threadbare refrain has two purposes: to paint his package as more substantial and thoughtful than it was, and to reinforce his self-image as a valiant battler for truth, justice, and the American Way.
But there's no evidence that Californians would have turned thumbs down on reforms they regarded as genuine and effective. With the governor's slapdash efforts having been spurned decisively, the stage is set for new efforts to fix what's broken in state government.
Plainly, a high priority must be given to reforming the initiative process itself. It has long been an article of faith that Californians so adore their initiative rights that no tinkering is possible or wise. Tuesday's results suggest, on the contrary, that voters are fed up with the system in its current condition.
They showed mistrust at its contamination by corporate money (the prescription drug measures), at excessive complexity (electricity regulation, redistricting) and at being asked to rule on issues best suited to a legislative balancing of priorities (abortion, healthcare, energy policy).
With 45 propositions circulating, pending or qualified for the June ballot, the time is ripe to revisit the numerous reforms for the initiative process that have been suggested over the years.
These include restricting initiatives to regularly scheduled statewide elections, so initiative backers can't shop around for primaries or other low-turnout ballot dates. Schwarzenegger obviously expected the poor turnout of a special election to help him. (He didn't miscalculate the turnout, only its political coloration.)
Other reforms would allow -- even require -- the Legislature to weigh in on proposed initiatives by holding hearings and trying to craft compromises to avert ballot-box showdowns. For all that the Legislature is routinely deprecated by ordinary voters and political poseurs alike (the governor not excepted), it's an indispensable part of the government. In recent years it has habitually backed off any issue headed for the ballot, but the less it participates, the further it withers. It's time to reintegrate our elected lawmakers in the process of making laws.
