FAQ’s - Yes We Can Change California

Who are you?  This site was created by a group of former Obama campaign staff and volunteers who are interested in organizing to change the 2/3 rule.  Names and contact information are listed at the Site Administrators link.  We created the site to find out who else wants to be part of a grassroots organizing effort to restore democracy to California.  We are collaborating in this project with the Courage Campaign.  We are not acting in any official capacity for Organizing for America. 

What’s the purpose of gathering these online signups?   The purpose of gathering these online signups is to gauge the level of support among the Obama volunteer network to establish a truly democratic budgeting process.  If we can generate a significant number of people registering their support at http://restoremajorityrule.com, the next step is teaming up with other progressives around California to draft a proposed ballot initiative.

What are you doing with the contact information you collect?  We will use it to identify people who are interested in helping organize to change the 2/3 rule.  People who register as supporters will get asked to host or attend local meetings and events, requests to volunteer, and more information about the status of the campaign and the process for determining how to proceed as a group.

How will we decide what the ballot initiative should say and what the message should be?  Right now we are building a broad grassroots coalition with other progressive organizations to restore majority rule in California.  Members of that coalition are working on polling, reaching out to legislators, and gathering the information we need to get a winning and effective initiative on the ballot.  Once that process is complete, we will come back to the supporters with a concrete proposal and exact language and ask for help gathering the signatures needed to get it on the ballot.  In the meantime, we welcome your feedback, suggestions and help.  Former Obama organizers will facilitate a process of house meetings and town hall style discussions over the coming weeks to generate further input - we will reach out to everyone who signs up on this site to encourage you to host or attend one of these meetings.

What about the fact that tax increases also require a 2/3 majority?  How will changing the budget rule help if we don’t also change the tax rule?  Changing the budget rule is critical, because even if tax increases are not on the table, a small minority can still force cuts in important programs, or even try to gut regulations or get special favors as the price of approving a budget.  A small minority of legislators can force the budget to be balanced in ways contrary to the interests of the people.  Most budgets in recent memory did not call for tax increases.  Most budgets in recent memory still could not be resolved by the constitutional deadline.  Right now we don’t have enough information about the political landscape to make a good decision about whether to tackle just the budget rule or to take on the tax rule also.  The process for developing language and message will allow us to get that kind of information, and consider the question of the budget rule alone or a budget and tax combination.

What’s the timeline for qualifying an initiative?  Once formal language is drafted, it needs to be reviewed and approved by the Secretary of State.  At that point, we would have 150 days to gather the necessary number of signatures – probably over 1 million – to qualify for the ballot.  But that clock won’t start ticking yet.  Our first step is gauging support, then developing language and a message and field strategy, so all that is in place before we do anything that triggers our 150 day window.

When would this be on the ballot?  We can’t qualify it in time for any 2009 elections.  We could attempt to put it on either the June 2010 or November 2010 ballot.  We would work with our coalition to figure out which one is the best opportunity to get this passed.

Isn’t there already an initiative to fix this on the ballot?  A pair of initiatives that would lower the threshold for budget and taxes to 55% has been approved by the Secretary of State.  It is up to the person sponsoring that initiative to get enough signatures to qualify it for the ballot.  Right now that initiative doesn’t seem to be making much progress.  Changing to majority rule is simpler and fairer and makes California like the U.S. Congress and almost every other state. 

What can I do to help?  First, be sure to sign up as a supporter.  Then try to get as many other people to sign up as you can.  E-mail the link to your friends, neighbors and family members, and to your organizer and volunteer networks.   Use the links on this site to learn more about the issue.  Figure out how our broken budget process is harming what you care most about – healthcare, education, the environment, and many other areas.