No need for special election
GOV. ARNOLD Schwarzenegger should call off plans for a special election in November.

The San Francisco Chronicle
Editorial
April 11, 2005

Last week, the governor backed off on plans for a ballot initiative to change the state employee retirement program from a defined-benefit system to 401(k)-type accounts. Opposition to the plan exploded when the attorney general's analysis determined that it would strip public employees of death and disability benefits. Schwarzenegger announced that he would work with legislators on a pension-reform plan that would curb the system's skyrocketing costs while addressing concerns about death benefits and other issues. If lawmakers fail to respond, he suggested he might try another initiative in June 2006.

None of the three other "reform" issues on Schwarzenegger's agenda -- teacher tenure, automatic budget cuts, redistricting -- requires a special election in November, which would cost taxpayers $60 million.

On teacher tenure, Schwarzenegger originally proposed raising it from its current two years to 10 years -- thus giving administrators a better chance to identify and fire underperforming teachers -- but he ended up endorsing an initiative that would allow tenure in five years. It just so happens that a number of key lawmakers have expressed their willingness to compromise on a tenure threshold. This issue can and should be resolved in the Legislature.

Moreover, the governor's support for a budget-control mechanism that would automatically slash spending in times of deficits is exactly the type of complex measure that should be refined and tweaked in concert with legislators.

His determination to take redistricting out of the hands of legislators -- who are now carving out districts in their own self-interest -- almost certainly will require a voter initiative. There is little chance politicians will cede such power voluntarily. But there is no urgency to do it this November, because the new districts could not be ready for the 2006 elections.

Schwarzenegger overplayed his hand by threatening to take these proposals directly to the voters before giving legislators enough time to consider them -- or, it now seems clear, before refining them himself.

The governor needs to spare the bravado and get back to work -- in the Capitol. Like it or not, working with legislators is part of the job.