Propositioned

Ah, term limits. I hate them. A lot. For every waste-of-space legislator removed by operation of law we lose a really good one. Bye, Mr. Burton. Bye, Mr. Keeley. Have term limits given access to more women? Yes. To more people of color? Yes.

Would we have reached that point eventually? Yes.

Have we already run out of women and people of color to promote to state service? Kinda. But that's another post.

In a week or so, we'll have another chance to undo - er - redo the evil, democracy-robbing beast that is term limits.

Naturally, I'll be voting against it. Yesss, I said against. Hey, I hate term limits, but this change reduces the total amount of time people can serve in either house and doesn't really fix the broader issue. We'll still have limits even if it passes. You know what term limit I support?

The one where I get to vote the bastards out, thankyouverymuch.

The Bee has an interesting piece on what happens to legislative leadership if Prop 93 does or does not pass:

Potential successors to Núñez and Perata already are quietly lining up support in case Proposition 93 fails.

Among Senate Democrats, Darrell Steinberg of Sacramento has emerged as the front-runner over Alex Padilla of Los Angeles to become the next leader.

Assembly Democrats are expected to choose from among Karen Bass, Kevin de León and Mike Feuer of Los Angeles, Hector De La Torre of South Gate, Fiona Ma of San Francisco, Alberto Torrico of Newark, Chuck Calderon of Whittier and Ted Lieu of Torrance.

Ooh, that Senate race is tough. Darrell Steinberg is beloved by many for his fairness, integrity, smarts, and savvy. And Alex Padilla is hot and from Los Angeles - oh, and politically savvy, accomplished, and young. And hot. On the Assembly side, Karen Bass would continue a geographic and network dynasty of Assembly leadership. The others are all young and up-and-coming. Fiona Ma is great, so is Ted Lieu. Oh, there's a Calderon, but let's just skip past him. There's always a Calderon around.

So who really would be next? And would any of them be in the running later if 93 passes? It's too late for me to do the math . . . .