Proposition 10

Complaints about the initiative process often have little to do with the process and a lot to do with the content of the initiative in question. Democratic legislators who rail against the process end up sponsoring initiatives to fund pet causes. And Republicans -- particularly those in California -- often talk about the initiative as a sacred expression of the people's will (especially Prop 13, the ultimate holy sacrament). Except when it produces policies they don't like.

The latest example of this comes from Dave Cogdill, the new Republican leader in the California State Senate. This week Cogdill proposed to balance the budget by raiding three accounts set up by ballot initiative: the county commissions for children established by Prop 10; the mental health services funds set aside by Prop 63, and the transportation fund established by Prop 42.

On the natural, each of these proposals is worth considering. Ballot box budgeting has its problems, and in a budget crisis, everything ought to be on the table. But the hypocrisy is nauseating. If someone suggested suspending Prop. 13 property tax limits, Cogdill and Republicans would be denouncing the notion. Next, Democratic legislators, who have been no friends of the initiative, predictably will rise to the defense of the people's will. The wailing you hear is California crying for leadership.