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Almost 2/3 Favor Abolishing 2/3 on State Budget

Byuclafaculty


A proposition (Prop 25) on the November 2010 ballot will allow voters to choose whether to abolish the 2/3 vote requirement to pass a state budget in both houses of the legislature. Almost 2/3 of voters support a simple majority vote on the budget according to the latest Field Poll. You can examine the results (including data on voter attitudes towards other items on the ballot) at:

http://field.com/fieldpollonline/subscribers/Rls2342.pdf

If you really want to look at the details, go to:

http://media.sacbee.com/smedia/2010/07/08/16/0709rls.source.prod_affiliate.4.pdf

Voters from both parties support abolishing the 2/3 rule on budgets, although support is stronger among Democrats.

The 2/3 requirement on budgets goes back to the Great Depression. Note that there would remain a 2/3 vote requirement on raising taxes. The tax requirement was part of Prop 13 of 1978.

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