"California Figured Out How To Make Democracy Work Again"

California Figured Out How To Make Democracy Work Again

by Hunter Schwarz at BuzzFeed

http://www.buzzfeed.com/hunterschwarz/california-figured-out-how-to-make-democracy-work-again

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In November 2012, state elections brought a new class into the legislature. Thirty-eight new members were elected to the State Assembly, the largest freshman class since 1934, and they’re also overwhelmingly Democratic. A supermajority in both chambers allows Democrats the power to raise taxes, override vetoes and propose constitutional amendments to voters without consulting Republicans. It’s a problematic precedent for those who say the two-party system is needed to keep parties in check.

“You don’t need a single thing from the Republican caucus,” said Democratic consultant Sean Clegg.

Brown’s experience combined with the Democratic legislature has helped the governor tackle the state’s problems, Clegg said. “He has been an extremely effective governor. I think probably the most effective California governor since his dad.”

Clegg noted the Democrat’s majority is “hanging by a very tenuous thread,” but said, “Democrats have been very conscious of not committing overreach of their supermajority. … The burden’s on Democrats to show that government can be effective.”




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