I'm thinking of suing the state for legislative pay. As a voter. To secure the vote of Republican state senator Abel Maldonado, a holdout whose vote is needed to pass a massive budget compromise bill in California, Democrats are considering Maldonado's demand for three ballot measures, the Sacramento Bee reports. The measures would create an open, or "top two" primary for the state, prohibit legislative pay raises if the budget is in deficit, and prevent lawmakers from receiving salaries if the budget is not passed on time.

Those three measures would be on top of the five other ballot measures required by other aspects of the deal. In all, Californians would have to vote on eight measures that are part of a mega-compromise. None of the measures are simple. They include changes to the state's education funding formula, the reversal of previous ballot initiatives on early childhood education and mental health, a new spending cap for the state, and a plan to borrow against future lottery revenues.

In the Sacramento Bee, New America's Steven Hill examines claims being made in California about the value of a "top two"-style open primary, which appears to be the new favorite idea of the state's community of goo goo reformers. Hill is skeptical of claims that such a primary would produce more moderate office holders or provide voter choice -- particularly in light of Washington state's experience with such a primary.

The most striking thing about Gov. Schwarzenegger's political reform event Wednesday at a railroad museum in Sacramento was how little was said about the future. The event celebrated the narrow triumph of Prop 11, the measure to strip California legislators of the ability to draw their own districts. But there wasn't much specific about that. Schwarzenegger's office did issue a press release that listed legislation he's supported in the past, and argued that he will pursue more transparency, without giving details). 

Prop 11 was a significant political triumph (similar measures had lost before), but its impact is likely to be small. The measure doesn't take effect for another two years. And given the political geography of California, it will be hard to draw single-member districts that don't strongly favor one party or the other. Californians tend to live near people who vote like they do.

Before I get on the plane tomorrow, here's a few short items that I missed this week.

THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF OPEN PRIMARY: Under Washington state's "top two" open primary law, candidates are permitted to list their own party preference on the ballot. But Democrats, believing that the Republican gubernatorial nominee is obscuring his unpopular party affiliation with a ballot reference to GOP, went to court to demand that the Republican be listed as a Republican.

VOTING OF THE FORECLOSED: In the most important political story of the week not related to the Wall Street bailout, there are signs that voters who lost their homes to foreclosure and haven't changed their address on voter registration documents may be systematically challenged at the polls -- to prevent them from voting -- by Republican operatives.

USDA ADS STOPPED: The U.S. Department of Agriculture had been running ads that seemed designed to oppose Prop. 2, the California ballot initiative to regulate how farm animals are confined. This week, a federal judge told the agency that, as a government agency, it couldn't take sides in a campaign.

The "top two" open primary and a measure dedicating 15 percent of lottery revenues to public safety. Details are here.

While you were at the beach or barbecuing hot dogs, petition circulators were practicing democracy. The final sigs are pouring in. Four measures were filed at the last minute in Oregon: a measure to devote a percentage of lottery proceeds to crime fighting, a cap on attorney's fees, a measure to reduce the number of lawsuits, and the open primary "top two" measure.

In Arizona and Nebraska, Ward Connerly's local supporters have filed the signatures on their anti-affirmative action initiatives. The Nebraska initiative is the only measure that appears to have the signatures in that state. (Hat tip, Ballotpedia).

Sponsors of an Oregon initiative to establish a "top two" primary, the U.S. Supreme Court-friendly version of the non-partisan or "open" primary, began to turn in signatures Friday.  In a top-two primary, all candidates appear (with party affiliations if their party is formally recognized by the state) on the primary ballot. The top two vote getters advance to the general election. (Ballot Access News, via ballotpedia).

TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL: Here's an important and under-reported story: Nevada's schools will be closed on Election Day in November. That should boost turnout in a swing presidential state. And it also could give a boost to the Nevada teachers' unions, who are attempting to raise gaming taxes to boost education funds. Not having to teach that day will boost turnout. Also, about 800 of the poll workers could be students, says the state's registrar of voters. In related news, a Nevada judge rules that two measures to tax gaming to provide funds for education can remain on the ballot. The judge thinks they make little sense, but says that the voters have the right to decide that for themselves.

AG'S DOMAIN: Some agriculture interests are getting aggressive in opposing Prop 98, one of the two measures on June's California ballot that would put restrictions on eminent domain. The Sacramento Bee says that this represents a divide in the agriculture community, since the California Farm Bureau is one of the initiative's backers. (Prop 98's restrictions include tigher limitations on using condemnation for private purposes and on retn control than its competitor, Prop 99).

Odds and ends from the past week...

TELL US WHAT YOU REALLY THINK: Steve Maviglio, Democratic political operative and aide to Speaker Fabian Nunez, unloads on the Foundations for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, now called Consumer Watchdog. The group is putting together a ballot initiative on health care. 

EMINENT DOMAIN MEASURES: As the California press corps withers, Capitol Weekly gets stronger. This past week, the newspaper has an excellent account of the back-and-forth over two competing eminent domain measures on the June ballot, Propositions 98 and 99. In brief, backers of Prop 98 (supported by an anti-tax group) are accusing backers of Prop 99 (supported by California cities) of "astro-turfing," the practice of using deceptively-named organizations with no real members.

WOLVES!!! A new development in the wolf wars in Alaska. A judge says the government can continue to shoot wolves from the air, though he invalidated the practice in certain parts of the state. The question of such aerial hunting -- to reduce the wolf population and protect caribou and other species -- goes to voters in the Last Frontier in August.