The Good: The study finds that term limits have allowed more minorities into the legislature which now better mirrors the state’s demographics. The percentage of whites, African-Americans and Asian & Pacific Islanders in the legislature is almost the same as the percentage that vote in California and the number of Latinos in the legislature is over 7% higher than their voting population.
The Bad: However the report indicates term limits has also resulted in “brain drain” from one of the three branches of state government. Because lawmakers don’t have enough time to become experts in public policy there is less oversight of the state’s bureaucracy and the executive branch. In fact the Governor’s role in state government has climbed substantially with the decline in legislative experience.
The Ugly: The campaign to come. The Democratic leadership in the legislature has put together Proposition 93 for the February ‘08 ballot. The measure would alter current law in that it would allow lawmakers to spent a total of 12 years in one chamber. The benefits could be a more experienced legislative branch with greater expertise on issues such as water policy and transportation.
However the opposition to 93 will be strenuous because its more than just an effort at better government. 85% of the current crop of legislators will benefit from Prop 93 and the two legislative leaders, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles) and Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata (D- Oakland) will be allowed to keep their jobs for at least another four years. Without Prop 93 both will be termed out of office next year.
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