California’s chronically late budgets have resulted in the lowest credit rating of any state.  That dubious distinction alone costs the state millions of dollars each year, but that’s just one of many costs.

Backroom Deals:
Because California is one of only three states that requires a 2/3 vote for the legislature to pass a budget, a handful of politicians can hold the process hostage for their own political purposes. This broken system sets the stage for the worst kind of backroom deals.

Public Safety and Education Pay the Price:
Last year alone, while teachers, firefighters and other public safety officers were getting pink slips, a few legislators held the budget hostage to demand billions in new corporate tax giveaways. Without any public hearings or debates, corporations walked away with billions – and Californians are paying the price.

Time for Accountability:
This reckless behavior happens year after year without any consequences for the legislators who fail to do their jobs.

It’s time for common sense reform that holds legislators accountable and ends the budget games. 

Proposition 25 is the first step.

1990
LAWMAKERS WORKING LATE ON OVERDUE STATE BUDGET
San Jose Mercury News July 6, 1990

1995
ON THE 34TH DAY BUDGET IMPASSE IS OVER
Modesto Bee- August 3, 1995

1996
STATE AGAIN LATE ON BUDGET
The Sacramento Bee - July 1, 1996

1997
$69 BILLION STATE BUDGET SIGNED 49 DAYS LATE
Daily Breeze - August 19, 1997

1998
STATE SENATE GIVES BLESSING TO LATE BUDGET
Modesto Bee- August 11, 1998

1999
STATE PASSES BUDGET DAY LATE
Fresno Bee- June 17, 1999

2000
THE LATE, LAMENTED STATE BUDGET
The Orange County Register - June 27, 2000

2001
STATE ASSEMBLY APPROVES BUDGET BILLS 3 WEEKS LATE
Daily Breeze - July 24, 2001

2002
DAVIS SIGNS STATE BUDGET,  SACRAMENTO: 2 MONTHS, 5 DAYS LATE, IT'S OFFICIAL $235 MILLION CUT IN VETOES
Long Beach Press-Telegram - September 6, 2002

2003
STATE TO ISSUE IOU'S IF BUDGET VOTE LATE
The San Francisco Chronicle - April 5, 2003

2004
LATE STATE BUDGET LEAVES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HANGING
Hanford Sentinel- July 19, 2004

2005
SCHWARZENEGGER SIGNS STATE BUDGET 11 DAYS LATE
San Jose Mercury News - July 12, 2005

2006
STATE MAY MISS BUDGET DEADLINE,  CALIFORNIA: LATE BUDGETS HAVE BEEN NORM FOR 20 YEARS.
Long Beach Press-Telegram - June 15, 2006

2007
THE STATE BUDGET WILL BE LATE AGAIN AS REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS HAGGLE
Daily Breeze- June 30, 2007

2008
SCHOOLS AWAIT NEWS OF POSSIBLE CUTS, LOCAL DISTRICTS EXPECT SOME FALLOUT FROM LATE PASSAGE OF STATE'S BUDGET
Ventura County Star - October 27, 2008

2009
BUDGET STALEMATE CONTINUES IN SACRAMENTO AS STATE READIES IOU'S
Whittier Daily News, The - June 30, 2009

PROLONGED STATE BUDGET SHORTFALL LIKELY TO MEAN DEEPER CUTS
Santa Cruz Sentinel (CA) - July 3, 2009