FROM SACRAMENTO — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says he "absolutely" loves the idea of holding a constitutional convention to overhaul state government.
California hasn't had such a confab in 131 years. But as Sacramento continues to embarrass itself, a citizens' movement is mounting to call one.
The Republican governor would like the convention to consider, among other things, eliminating some statewide offices -- like treasurer, controller, superintendent of public instruction and, especially, lieutenant governor, all currently held by Democrats.
"It makes no sense that the governor is surrounded by constitutional officers who are trying to derail him," Schwarzenegger says. "Look at the way the nation runs: The president appoints those Cabinet positions."
He'd also like another crack at extending legislative term limits.
Under the current limits, the governor says, "the staffs and the special interests are running the Capitol, and the legislators -- the elected officials -- can't get up to speed in time before they have to bow out and leave. So it is not good for anybody."
Schwarzenegger has long defended the two-thirds majority vote requirement for budget passage. But after the just-concluded months-long struggle, he's now willing to consider reducing the vote threshold to a simple majority if spending growth is kept under 5%.
"Let's have that debate," the governor says. "You know one thing, what you have now in place is not functional. The rest of the world is laughing at us for having the huge [budget] delay."
I hadn't heard Schwarzenegger publicly articulate these things until our telephone interview Tuesday.
Meanwhile, two blocks from the Capitol in a hotel banquet room, 400 good-government types, policy wonks, business leaders and dissatisfied citizens were convening a "summit" to discuss a potential agenda for a constitutional convention. The event was a sellout that overflowed the hotel banquet hall.
"I love that. I love that," Schwarzenegger said. "That just shows you what the interest is." Does he favor an actual convention? "Love it. Love it."
The Legislature could call a convention, but that's improbable. It's likely to require a ballot measure.
Although he's excited about the notion of a convention, Schwarzenegger would open it to a broader range of people than the sponsoring business group, the Bay Area Council. It has suggested selecting delegates "through a random jury pool process" to keep special interests from "gaming the system." The governor says legislative leaders and good-government groups also should be represented.
