The next month we will be devoting quite a bit of time, including this opening commentary of the 2007 legislative session, to blasting Proposition 93 for the self-serving “big lie” that it happens to be. You have to try very, very hard to find a more shameful attempt to mock the voters of California than this initiative, which we have dubbed, “The Fabian Nunez/Don Perata Career Politician Term Limits Weakening Initiative…"
We are calling this measure “The Big Lie” because proponents, including Senate President Don Perata and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, have the audacity to try to lie to the voters by saying that Proposition 93 “strengthens” term limits – the exact opposite of what it does. While Perata and Nunez look you straight in the eye and tell you that this measure would “limit the total amount of time that an individual can serve in the legislature from 14 years to 12 years,” this measure allows scores of legislators to blow through all of these limits, and serve vastly longer.
A very quick reminder of some facts that “King Fabian” is not in a hurry to share as he works to try to extend his time in power, consolidate his position, and maintain his lavish lifestyle:
- 42 “termed out” legislators who would otherwise retire at the end of this year would be able to spend years more in the legislature (including Perata and Nunez).
- Over 60% of currently serving state legislators would have their time in office greatly increased, well beyond the current limits.
- Only a fraction of legislators go from one legislative house to the other. The reality is that under Proposition 140, a great many legislators serve only six years in the Assembly, and then have to go back to the “real world” to live under the laws they passed.
- If “The Big Lie” passes, somewhere around 80% of currently-serving Senators will serve 18 years, and some will even serve 20 years.
Further compounding “The Big Lie” is the Title and Summary of the measure that appears on the ballot. Attorney General Jerry Brown, a term-limits hater, penned wording that promotes the myth that this measure does the opposite of what it actually does.
The irony is that it is only “The Big Lie” that has this measure neck and neck in the polls. The largest support for it comes from California Republicans, who erroneously believe the lie.
Of course, as it has been well-documented in newspaper stories, Fabian Nunez has been gauging those with interests before the legislature, “making them” write big checks to his committee formed to pass The Big Lie. It has even been theorized that the only reason that Nunez insisted on the health care legislation being crafted before February was so that he would have a whole other group of interests that he could force to “pay into the fund” to earn his good graces.
I have gotten a few calls and e-mails – already No on 93 commercials are being seen on television sets in the Central Valley, and you can be sure that this is only the beginning.
We’ll continue to beat the drum here, exposing “The Big Lie” and reminding folks that this is no more than a naked power grab by termed-out legislative leaders, especially H.R.H. Fabian Nunez. You can always read more at the No on 93 website.
Coming tomorrow: The FlashReport State Senator of the Year for 2007… The envelope please…
Care to read comments, or make your own about today’s Daily Commentary?
Just click here to go to the FR Weblog, where this Commentary has its own blog post, and where you can read and make comments.