Skelton: Proposition 31 unrealistic medicine for California

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If there’s one issue on the November ballot that can put Californians to sleep, it’s Proposition 31.

‘It’s long and complex,’ writes George Skelton in Monday’s column. ‘To the average voter, I suspect, it reads like gobbledygook. I know it does to me.’

The ballot initiative would change the state’s legislative process, so budgets last for two years instead of one and bills couldn’t be passed unless they were publicly available for three days first. Also, lawmakers would be required to identify funding for any new programs or tax cuts worth more than $25 million.

Skelton says they’re good ideas in theory, but not so much in the real world of California government.

Proposition 31 would also shift some authority back to local governments, which environmentalists and labor leaders fear could reduce important regulations.

‘I’d rather see just one statewide set of procedures, regulations or whatever you want to call them — not a different set in each county,’ Skelton writes.

All of Skelton’s columns are here.

ALSO:

Los Angeles Times voter guide for Proposition 31

Column: Prop. 31 could be Californians’ most important ballot decision

Skelton: Prop. 30 compounds state’s bad tax policy, but we need it anyway