Budget situation puts state Constitution into question

All of the recommendations are in the works, but any plan for a constitutional rewrite would take years to unfold, with the first effort coming in the form of a ballot measure in 2010 that would ask voters to authorize themselves to initiate a constitutional convention, according to the organization.

The following year, if the initial measure is approved, voters would have to approve another initiative to actually initiate a constitutional convention, after which one would be organized and draft a plan for voter approval by 2012.

The process might be long, but the need for a convention is becoming more widely acknowledged as lawmakers continue to struggle to improve the state’s operations, Grubb said.

“With the Legislature, they’ve had a chance to pass reforms for years now and we had a screaming crisis in education and water and prisons, and they aren’t able to pass any reforms, so we don’t hold much hope for the Legislature,” Grubb said.

Some legislators, however, remain on the fence about a convention, despite voicing support for efforts to fix what they describe as a broken legislative process.

“I still don’t think the convention is a proper way to do it, but I’m certainly looking into reforms,” Republican Sen. Bob Huff said.

 ZAIN SHAUK covers education, business and politics. He may be reached at (818) 637-3238 or by e-mail at zain.shauk@latimes.com.