California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today asked for his Twitter followers to suggest ideas to address California's multi-billion-dollar budget mess.
He's asked people to tweet their ideas, using the hashtag #myidea4CA.
With just 140 characters, we're talking brief thoughts here, not than bill-ready proposals, and who knows who'll actually read them? But his appeal's got my creative juices flowing. Follow me after the jump for my tweets:
- High cost of housing drives employment expenses, squeezing budget. Reduce housing prices with stricter lending standards. #myidea4CA
- Cap annual homestead property taxes for CA residents at 4% of household income. Tax all other property at market value. #myidea4CA
- $10,000 fine for any broker and applicant who submit a mortgage application with fake income data. #myidea4CA
- Eliminate term limits, 3 strikes, and new propositions (except to repeal old ones). #myidea4CA
- Charge UC and CSU faculty to write and test K-12 curriculum and texts. Distribute freely via netbooks to all CA students. #myidea4CA
- Eliminate 2/3 requirement to pass budget or raise taxes in CA Assembly. #myidea4CA
Now, we're talking budget ideas, so I didn't propose obvious social reforms the state needs, such as repealing Prop 8, or federal reforms, such as a public option for health care.
What are your ideas for reforming California's budget, in 140 characters or less? Let's hear 'em in the comments. And don't forget to tweet!
Update: A good point made asking why we should participate in a Republican's obvious gimmick?
Because CA progressives need to be making better "elevator pitches" to grab the attention of CA voters. We need a progressive narrative for how we will fix this state, one that will build support for the solutions that are obvious to us. But solutions without popular support are worthless to this state.
Tweets can be silly, but they can also help us hone a short, effective pitch that will attract notice, engage minds and elicit votes.