Loud and Clear – A summary of last night’s election results
Sometimes election results can be difficult to analyze, sometimes voters reactions in the voting booth leave political pundits scratching their collective heads. Voters have often approved two seemingly opposite propositions on one ballot. Yesterday was not one of those days. Even with last minute threats to lay off thousands by the Governor, the people of California voted loud and clear: cut spending, make changes.
Propositions 1A through 1E were soundly defeated by voters, leaving only 1F victorious. 1F’s passage fits perfectly into this voting pattern, as it had to do with limiting the Legislators access to pay increases in deficit years. It isn’t hard to define the voters’ message, they want Sacramento to make sacrifices in order to balance the budget, just like they have had to do in their own homes.
Across America the average family has made multiple sacrifices the last 18 months in order to make ends meet. Some decided to turn off their expensive HD cable, others agreed not to eat out and most cut back drastically on consumer spending. Very few have been unaffected by the recent financial situation. Even in what can be considered the lavish state of California, people are reeling with lost equity in homes, reduced access to credit and mounting bills because of layoffs. Financial analysts are saying the market will start to round the corner this year, but not soon enough for voters to approve California’s complicated and highly political budget plan on yesterday’s ballot.
The ballot measures were a result of budget negotiations done earlier this year between the Republican Governor and the Democratic majority party leaders. The Big 5, as they are often called, are made up of the Governor, the Assembly and Senate majority leaders and the minority party leaders from both houses. This is the group that put forward the series of propositions voters decided on last night. 1A-1E would have raised significant money for the General Fund, set aside dedicated education monies for the 2011-2012 fiscal year and generally changed how the budget process is done in California. Now, the Big 5 are headed back to the table to attempt a new budget under the June 30th deadline.
With the state now facing an estimated $21 billion dollar deficit, a lot of decisions have to be made. None of them will be politically easy. Whether or not the Governor makes good on his promise to lay off thousands of state employees is yet to be seen. State officials have indicated deep cuts will be necessary to education, public safety and social programs. Politicians do however, have one thing on their side as they head into negotiations, they know without a doubt what the voters have asked them to do.
Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically to your feed reader.
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a comment