Susan Shelley: Ten ballot measures to restore California

Californians have been telling pollsters for some time that they are frustrated with high crime, high taxes, high electricity bills, high gasoline prices, high housing costs and a general feeling that the government wastes our tax dollars.

In the November election, voters used one of their direct-democracy powers, the initiative, to take action on crime. More than 10 million voters, 68.4%, said yes to Proposition 36, the get-tougher-on-crime measure that changes a 2014 criminal justice reform initiative, Proposition 47.

The citizens of California have had the power of initiative since 1911 and this is as good a time as any to explore what can be done through direct democracy to address problems that the legislature and the governor have caused and are now ignoring while they pal around with special interests.

For your consideration, here are ten ideas for initiatives, starting with two that relate to elections.

Election reform: Require voter ID, reinstate by-request mail ballots and repeal the 2016 “ballot harvesting” law that allows paid canvassers to knock on voters’ doors and ask to pick up their ballots. These are sensible steps that deter or block old-school election fraud techniques — voter impersonation, ballot-box stuffing and voter intimidation.

Neutral ballot titles and summaries: Transfer the responsibility for writing the titles and summaries of statewide ballot measures to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office, away from the partisan attorney general. Similarly, require titles and summaries of local measures to be written by a neutral analyst.

The next four initiatives deal with taxes.

Restore the court-eroded 2/3 vote to raise local taxes: In 1978, California voters overwhelmingly passed Proposition 13, an initiative that cut and controlled property taxes and also gave Californians the right to vote on local tax increases. Prop. 13 required a 2/3 vote of the electorate to approve new or higher taxes, but court decisions beginning in the 1980s hacked at this protection and established methods of passing tax hikes with a simple majority. Voters can reinstate the 2/3 vote for all local taxes and all local bonds, including school bonds, which currently need only 55% to pass. If you think it has become too easy to raise taxes in California, an initiative can fix that.

Repeal the “death tax” in Prop. 19 (2020): In 1986, the legislature voted unanimously for a constitutional amendment that allowed a limited amount of property to be transferred between parents and children without reassessment to market value, meaning no change to the property tax bill. That was Proposition 58. It was approved by 75% of voters, and now, it’s gone. Under Prop. 19 from 2020, all such transferred property is reassessed to current market value with only limited exceptions. An initiative could restore the 1986 tax rules that for more than 30 years protected families in every community from being taxed out of the property their parents worked so hard to acquire.

Cut the state sales tax from 7.5% to 5.5%. California has the highest state sales tax in the nation, and local governments can add 2% or more on top of that. An initiative that cut the state sales tax rate would immediately help every Californian struggling with the high cost of living.

Raise the Homeowner’s Exemption to 25% of assessed value: Californians who own their primary residence can claim the Homeowner’s Exemption, which knocks a flat $7,000 off the assessed value of their home, but this translates to a yearly tax savings of only $70. The amount was never updated as property values skyrocketed, so it’s not much help to new and recent homebuyers. An initiative could change the Homeowner’s Exemption to 25% of assessed value. For example, an owner-occupied home assessed at $800,000 would be eligible for a $200,000 reduction in assessed value instead of $7,000. That’s a 25% tax cut.

The next four initiatives would increase job opportunities, inhibit wasteful government spending and reduce the cost of living.

Right-to-Work: California currently allows certain workers in the private sector to be required to join a union or pay union fees as a condition of working on some jobs. Additionally, California enacted Assembly Bill 5 in 2019, which in many cases makes it illegal for employers to hire independent contractors. An initiative could give Californians the right to accept any kind of job without having to pay a union for the privilege, and without any legal restrictions banning freelance work.

Stop the insane state spending: An initiative could restore the requirement for a 2/3 vote of the Legislature to pass the state budget, instead of a simple majority. California is currently in a “budget emergency” because spending is far above revenue collection. Revenues are rising, but spending rises faster. It’s too easy for lawmakers to say yes to everybody who wants your money.

Stop the use of tax dollars to lobby the government: An initiative could prohibit local governments and special districts in California from spending tax dollars on lobbying. Many states prohibit this practice already. Taxpayers have a right to expect their government officials to talk to each other without paying lobbying firms to grease the skids.

Force lower electricity bills: California has set aggressive targets for greenhouse gas reduction in the state, and the regulations imposed by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to enforce these reductions are raising the cost of gasoline, electricity and everything that is transported, manufactured, produced or grown in the Golden State. The legislature refuses to do anything about it. But imagine the pressure if an initiative required a pause in enforcement of the greenhouse gas reduction mandates until average residential electricity bills in the state fell 30% below their 2024 average. Let’s see CARB implement that.

It takes about a million signatures of registered voters to qualify an initiative for the statewide ballot, which is not easy. But when special interests control the Capitol, it’s the only way the people of California can be heard over the din.

Write Susan@SusanShelley.com and follow her on X @Susan_Shelley