On Election Day, Californians voted to make passing a budget easier. But they made it harder to pass certain fees, and kept the state from raiding local government coffers.
That gives lawmakers fewer options for closing the budget gap. Mark Baldassare is President of the Public Policy Institute of California. He says given the economic climate, voters want lawmakers to pass a budget quickly - but without raising taxes and fees.
"They don't trust the state government; they have low approval ratings of the legislature and they're very worried about the budget situation."
All California legislative incumbents were reelected, despite
the legislature's low approval rating. The pollsters say that's
because the last time district lines were drawn lawmakers were
holding the chalk.
But voters kept the Citizens Redistricting Commission and
expanded its power. Baldassare says that means incumbents may not
fare so well next time they have such a low approval rating.
