Californians are expressing frustration with high crime, taxes, electricity bills, gasoline prices, housing costs, and government waste. In the recent election, voters used the initiative process to pass Proposition 36, which toughens criminal justice reform. The power of initiative has been in place since 1911 and can be used to address various issues ignored by the government.
Suggestions for initiatives include election reform, Tackling taxes like reinstating a 2/3 vote to raise local taxes and repealing the “death tax” in Prop. 19. Other ideas involve cutting the state sales tax and raising the Homeowner’s Exemption. Initiatives to increase job opportunities, curb government spending, and lower electricity bills are also proposed.
It requires about a million signatures to qualify an initiative for the statewide ballot, making it difficult but necessary when special interests dominate the legislature. This process allows Californians to have a voice and make changes in the state’s policies.
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