Yep - since Prop 13 tied the state's legislature in knots, a small minority of conservative, "starve the beast" types have been able to turn the largest economy in the US into a fiscal joke.
But citizens are fighting back with only pen and paper:
This is the final week of the campaign to put a measure on the November ballot which will help solve the state's fiscal problems. If voters approve the initiative, the 2/3 vote on both budget and revenue required in the legislature will be replaced by a SIMPLE MAJORITY (like 47 other states), but first it must get on the ballot. You can download a single signature petition, witness it yourself, and send it in before April 5 (send it by April 2 to be extra safe).
Here's a message from Californians for Democracy with all the details.
Dear Friends,
We All Suffer From Budget Cuts
All Californians are suffering from budget cuts. Cuts to schools and colleges dumb down our children and businesses. Cuts to public transportation and roads crowd our highways and burden our seniors. Cuts to police and fire departments put our neighborhoods in danger.
California voters can end our state's budget gridlock by passing the California Democracy Act.
The California Democracy Act is just 14 words long, but they are powerful:
"All legislative actions on revenue and budget must be determined by a majority vote."
But first we must collect enough signatures to qualify the California Democracy Act for the November ballot, and we need your help. For the sake of California's kids and schools, safety and seniors, highways and parks, please take these two steps TODAY:
...go to http://GrassrootsForDemocracy.com/... and download [the petition] there. Fill it all out, sign it (twice), and put it in the mail ASAP.
Forward this [message] on to everyone you know today, and urge them to do the same.
We must receive your signed petition by April 5.
PLEASE ACT NOW!
Sacramento has been cutting for 30 years. What they are cutting now hurts us all. Why is this happening? For 30 years, a 2/3 vote requirement for budget and revenue measures has been tying the legislature up in knots. This allows a 1/3 minority of extremists in either the state Senate or Assembly to block the democratic will of the majority, resulting in budget gridlock. When they don’t get what they want, they bring government to a halt, taking no responsibility for the consequences of their actions. By saying "no" often and long enough, they force the responsible majority of legislators to go against their best judgment just to get some budget passed, even when it is disastrous for the education, health and well-being of the people of California.
We must get enough signatures to put the California Democracy Act on the November ballot.
Placing George Lakoff’s initiative on the ballot and getting it passed would allow a majority of the legislators to fund education over prisons, to close loopholes, and to end giveaways.
You can restore a government that works for all Californians by ... going to ... . From there, download the petition, print it out, fill it all out, sign it (twice), and mail it in, today. We need your petition by April 5.
We need more than just your signature: forward this message on to everyone you know, today, and urge them to do the same!
Make it a great day for California's future! Sign and send the petition today to restore democracy to our great state.
For information about the California Democracy Act, go to http://californiansfordemocracy.com/