Experts Expound: Making the Capitol work better

We’re down to just a few days left in 2023, which makes it a good time for a bit of reflection…and one final question for the year for our stable of Capitol experts.

If you were king for a day, what would you change about the Capitol to make it work more effectively?

“Lower the number of bills allowed to be introduced to 10 per member/year (20 total per 2 year session). This would reduce the enormous amount of stupid bills introduced, give relief to overworked staff doing busy work on bills that don’t do anything, and reduce unnecessary workload on committee staff that have to “analyze” so many unbaked bills that are allowed to go through the process. It would also allow policy staff the time and focus to become experts in a specific subject matter instead of having to just know enough about a million topics in order to keep up with the outrageous number of bills they have to staff.”

“Move it to Santa Barbara!”

“An absolute limit on the number of bills every/any member can introduce in any session. Dealing with 3000+ bills every year is insane. I’ve worked for a governor who had to sign or veto all those bills — an equally insane process. I think it was Jerry Brown who once said, “Are there really 3,000 problems every year in CA that are susceptible to a legislative solution?” Legislators should be forced to prioritize and pick and choose the legislation they introduce, not just throw Jello at the wall to placate and make themselves out to be heroes to every special interest or satisfy all of their own esoteric interests.”

“1) Eliminate term limits for legislative offices; 2) Ranked Choice Voting on all legislative and statewide elections; 3) Mandate that signature gathers get paid by the hour rather than by the signature.”

“Legislators serve on no more than 3 committees and must spend at least 50% of their time on executive branch oversight instead of new bills. Oh, and introduce no more than 10 bills per year.”

“Yes, move it to a place you can’t get there from here!”

“Eliminate political parties. Non-partisan approach to policy.”

“Change how big money dominates politics and government. People know money buys influence that profits big donors over public good. Saving democracy requires restoring people’s trust in it. The way to do that is to replace big money campaign donors with public financing to match smaller donors. But in a classic ‘Catch 22’ the influence of big money blocks a wholesale change to public financing from happening. So it’s a change that calls for a king for a day.”

“I agree with the call for limits on the number of bill introductions. I worked bill limit legislation in the late 80s when the Assemblyman I worked for ran it as a solution to Sacramento’s problems back then. Fun and games!”

“I’d love to change people’s negative perspective that everyone who works in or around politics and government is on the take and corrupt.  Wasn’t that longer ago that what we all do/have done used to be considered honorable, if thought of at all.  I’d go back there…happy holidays.”

“Require voter approval on all new state taxes. Putting taxes before voters ensures it is limited only to those most needed and increases accountability for how the money gets spent. The last gas tax increase would have been structured very differently if they needed to get voter approval for it.”

“The Legislature will only become more ‘efficient’ when it is able to operate without the influence of special interests. The time is ripe for comprehensive campaign reform that will withstand court challenges. The reason we have so many bills is because lobbyists are behind 90 percent of them. Reduce the influence of special interests and the Legislature automatically becomes more efficient. A guy can dream…”

The people from whom we solicited opinions: Elizabeth Ashford, Hector Barajas, A.G. Block, Barry Brokaw, Samantha Corbin, Jon Costantino, Richard Costigan, Tim Foster, Rex Frazier, John Howard, Fiona Hutton, Gale Kaufman, Steven Maviglio, Mike MeCey, Paul Mitchell, Barbara O’Connor, Jack Ohman, Kassy Perry, Matt Rexroad, Garry South, Paula Treat, Bill Wong, Daniel Zingale