Op-Ed
Proposition 93 would make a good law better
California's term-limits law was passed 17 years ago to bring fresh faces and new ideas into the Legislature. It has worked.
The power of the Legislature combined with term limits have brought California landmark environmental legislation, historic civil rights bills and once-in-a-generation investments in our infrastructure.
State must lead the way, once again, on car emissions
By Steve Westly
Article Launched: 06/01/2008 01:33:09 AM PDT
From the Gold Rush to the silver screen to the Silicon Valley revolution, California has a history of being an economic leader. We led on environmental issues, as well, by requiring catalytic converters in the 1970s to clean auto emissions.
Judge term-limits reform on its own merits
It is legitimate to debate types of political reform for our state. However, it is important to take each issue and look at it on its own merits.
Proposition 93 promises much-needed reform to term limits in California. The overall performance of the state Legislature is hurt by our current system of term limits by not allowing legislators to gain adequate experience.
Experienced lawmakers, more informed voters
Term limits for legislatures are a reality in 15 states. For these states, term limits serve as a vehicle to maintain consistent turnover. They ensure a constant supply of fresh faces and new ideas.
Don't leave big problems to newcomers
Steve:
You know very well our state Legislature can be more efficient and effective through term limits reform. As far back as 1996, the nonpartisan California Constitution Revision Commission suggested reforms similar to those in Proposition 93.
Will emotion or policy drive clean-tech movement?
The Internet boom and bust--like all marketplace manias--taught us the pitfalls of sketching out paradigm-shifting business models on the back of a napkin. It also taught us the risk of investing huge sums of money on anticipated and unknown consumer demand. For example, would people actually order their groceries online?
Stricter Immigration Enforcement Must Include Comprehensive Reform
The Bush administration's announcement that the Department of Homeland Security will require employers to fire employees with invalid Social Security numbers threatens the health of California's economy. This new policy also stands in stark contrast to the carrot-and-stick approach to immigration reform that the Senate debated, and the president supported, as recently as June of this year.
Time to Clean up port pollution
What would you do if you were told that your children had twice the chance of developing asthma and 20 times the risk of getting cancer?
