West Hollywood, California (November 16, 2009) - 42nd District Assembly member Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles), the Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Improving State Government, keeps his office in and lives just blocks outside West Hollywood, and knows that WeHo can provide him a solid sounding board on issues of good governance, so the Creative City became his first choice when determining where to hold his first Town Hall on state government reform. 
West Hollywood’s Town Hall on State Government Reform was on Tuesday, November 10. WeHo News. |
“People in West Hollywood are justly proud of how their city is run,” he said during the gathering, held Tuesday at WeHo Auditorium at West Hollywood City Park.
The premise of the meeting, which occurred just a few days before the Senate and Assembly select committees on Improving State Government convened to hear testimony on ballot box budgeting and initiative process reforms, was to launch, collect and refine ideas on how to reverse the State’s sinking into even deeper financial problems.
Moderator West Hollywood council member John Duran introduced a panel of experts on government and governance, including,
• Assembly member Mike Feuer, himself a budget expert having chaired the LA City Council Budget Committee in his time in that body
• Connie Busse, Executive Director of the Cities, Counties and Schools Partnership
• Rod Wood, City Manager, City of Beverly Hills, and
• Jim Madaffer, Past President, League of California Cities.
Jim Madaffer of San Diego, Past President, League of California Cities. WeHo News. |
Each of the panelists laid out problems with the state government’s operations, from lawmaking to budgeting, a list that can be narrowed down to a couple of essential problems.
The panel asserted that initiative process is out of control, stopping or perverting tax revenue streams. On top of that, the budget requires a two-thirds majority to pass it, making passing a responsible budget impossible, given GOP intransigence on taxes.
As part of his comments that night, Mr. Feuer promised to take issues of importance to cities into account when reporting to his committee.
“We're also going to confer, in future sessions, about the relationship between cities and the state. There are many jurisdictions that would like to see control of services [as West Hollywood has] in their hands instead of controlled by Sacramento.”
Recently released polls show Californians want change, but most fail to see how said reform should look or be implemented to achieve a true fix.
While Californians want lasting and meaningful reforms, a Public Policy Institute of California report released in September shows waning trust in those who could make the desired reforms.
42nd District Assembly member Mike Feuer (D-LA/WeHo/Bev. Hills), the Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Improving State Government. WeHo News. |
The state need not trust lawmakers implicitly; they need to get involved and voice opinions, Mr. Feuer asserted.
“If we keep the reform process in Sacramento, we fail,” he said, pointing to a series of Town Halls meetings scheduled during the committee’s hearing process, which ends in December, to keep the rest of the state involved.
“I don't consider this an academic exercise,” he said. “There has to be a practical, roll up our sleeves exercise in how we transform how we do business.”
At the hearing, held in Sacramento on Thursday, he said, "Direct democracy can be a powerful force for change in California. But too often initiatives have been captured by special interests, or used in ways that contribute to our state's budget problems. Now is the time to refine the initiative system so it can work for all Californians."
The Thursday Assembly and the Senate committees’ joint hearing was the second of five highlighting key areas in which the state government needs reform.
At the meeting, members of the joint committees and panelists both expressed support for California’s initiative process, but also possible reforms to improve it.
Sen. Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) chairs the Senate Select Committee on Improving State Government. WeHo News. |
Testifying that the California initiative process remains popular with voters, the pro-initiative advocates suggested that legislators tighten up certain aspects of the process to allow for greater legislative review of proposed initiatives, as well as better disclosure of financially backers of initiatives.
That left committee members still concerned that ballot measures have had an adverse effect on California’s budget process, making it more difficult for governments state and local to plan.
The committees’ work will culminate with the introduction of reform legislation when the Legislature reconvenes in January.
“We think we can change that attitude by doing what we can in the Capitol to reform state government,” said Sen. Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) who chairs the Senate Select Committee on Improving State Government.
The Senate and Assembly committees are working concurrently to address the pressing need for state governmental reform and evaluate major reform proposals.
To accomplish this, the committees will jointly host three more hearings throughout the state, taking on the topics of budget process improvements, as well as relationships between state and local governments.
The next hearing, scheduled for December 8 in Los Angeles, will focus on budget process reforms and legislative oversight of state government agencies.
Video of Thursday’s hearing is available here.
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