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Proposition 13, the landmark 1978 ballot measure that sharply reduced property taxes paid by California homeowners, has long been criticized for starving state municipalities, reducing fiscal flexibility and, most recently and by members of both political parties, opening a loophole for big business that sticks individual homeowners with the bill that used to be paid by major corporations.

You might think the fact that California schools have plunged in national rankings since the passage of Proposition 13 would make a second look a priority for lawmakers, but you would be wrong. They don't call 13 the third rail of California politics for nothing.

It's true that this year a reform bill was introduced in the Legislature when state Democrats had the supermajority required to make changes in taxes. But state Democrats dithered, then lost their supermajority, a loss that was cemented in the 2014 midterm elections.

"The Democrats had their chance with the bulletproof, absolute two-thirds majorities last year, but they were unwilling to pull the trigger," Larry Gerston, a political science professor at San Jose State, told The Times' Patrick McGreevy and Melanie Mason. "That window is now shut."

Even the Chamber of Commerce is in favor of Proposition 13 reform. Heck, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn. announced it wouldn't object. But what Gerston is saying is that not enough Republicans will join forces with Democrats to touch the third rail, and Democrats didn't do it when they had the chance.

A lot of voters cling to 13; they don't like to hear about it changing. It therefore takes leadership to reform it. And the corporations who could be on the losing end of closing the loophole surely won't go quietly.

Still, what did we elect representatives to do but deal with all this? Yet, as in today's cartoon, too many politicians seem to live their lives in far too insulated a way, removed from the damage created by their decisions and indecision. What's the rush? It's hard to wrangle reform. And besides, the system is only broken a little bit we can afford to wait, even if everyone else can't.

Follow Ted Rall on Twitter @tedrall

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Democrats shouldn't have dithered on Proposition 13 reform

By Alexandra Jaffe, CNN

updated 1:15 PM EST, Wed December 3, 2014

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

(CNN) -- Democrats are looking to turn up the heat on Republican Rep. Bill Cassidy as he heads into the final days of his runoff battle with Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu with two ethics complaints focused on his work at Louisiana State University.

Both a Louisiana citizen affiliated with the Louisiana Democratic Party and the American Democracy Legal Fund filed complaints with the Office of Congressional Ethics on Wednesday alleging that Cassidy's work for the university violates multiple ethics rules and guidelines and calling for an investigation.

The ADLF complaint, obtained by CNN, alleges that Cassidy failed to receive required approval from the Ethics Committee to engage in teaching activities from 2011-2014.

Lawmakers are banned from receiving any "honoraria" meaning a payment for an appearance, speech or article while serving in office, but teaching activities are exempt from that ban. The complaint against Cassidy also argues that his work for LSU did not meet the requirements to be considered teaching work, and thus wasn't exempt from the ban.

Instead, it argues, his work amounts essentially to "medical services," and so the stipend he received from LSU for his teaching services should be considered compensation in violation of Ethics rules. That stipend was also, the complaint alleges, inappropriately left off of his personal disclosure forms.

And it also argues that Cassidy received compensation from LSU for months when he didn't put in any hours there, meaning the compensation constitutes a gift in excess of the $100 limit lawmakers must adhere to.

The LDP complaint outlines similar concerns.

Go here to read the rest:
Democrats file ethics complaints against Cassidy in Congress

TIME Politics Congress How Democrats May Help the GOP Avert a Shutdown Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) holds a news conference with the newly-elected members of the House GOP leadership at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Nov. 13, 2014. Chip SomodevillaGetty Images Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi opposes the plan, but isn't whipping votes against it

Democrats may come to the rescue of House Speaker John Boehner in order to avert a government shutdown next week.

Conservatives are clamoring for the House Republican leadership to use the power of the purse to protest President Barack Obamas executive order, which could delay deportations for up to five million immigrants who came to the country illegally. Several prominent conservatives, including Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz and Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, have rebuked the House Republican leaderships government funding proposal, but leadership believes enough Democrats will join to pass it, according to a congressional aide.

Im waiting to be convinced that its a bad idea because on the face of it I think its probably the best that we can do right now, says Democratic Rep. Dan Lipinski of Illinois.

I think everyone is reluctantly looking at this as probably the most practical solution, concurs Democratic Rep. John Delaney of Maryland, who is considering voting for Boehners proposal. I do not want to have a government shutdown If thats where we end up I dont think the president should veto it.

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi opposes the measure, but House Democrats said she hasnt been whipping against it behind the scenes. Still, several Democrats told TIME they wouldnt vote for the proposal.

I hate to give in to their whining, said Kentucky Democratic Rep. John John Yarmuth of Kentucky, adding that hell probably vote no. It doesnt make any sense to me that we would fund an important agency like that on a piecemeal basis and just having to waste time going through another exercise three months from now.

The House GOP leadership plan would fund all aspects of the federal government through September 2015, with the exception of the Department of Homeland Security, which would be funded through the next few months. DHS is tasked with carrying out Obamas executive order. Jennifer Hing, House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers spokeswoman, said that the language for the bill will be made public early next week, which would give little time for conservatives to come up with an alternative.

Conservatives would prefer to have a shorter-term funding solution and some are calling for defunding the programs designated to enact Obamas executive action.

That might be something we do closer to the deadline, says Brian Phillips, the spokesman for conservative Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, of the House GOP leadership plan. Youve got to do what you need to do to elevate this issue and put the Democrats on record as to whether or not they do or do not support the Presidents amnesty.

Link:
How Democrats May Help the GOP Avert a Shutdown

By Humberto Sanchez and Niels Lesniewski Posted at 8:47 a.m. on Dec. 4, 2014

Manchin (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Senate Democrats held a meeting Wednesday that they hoped would end intraparty finger-pointing after tough election losses, and discussed their new minority role in next Congress.

The healing process is beginning, West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin III said.

Senators heard from their colleagues who wont be coming back next Congress including Sen. Mark Begich of Alaska, Manchin said.

Manchin added, We hope to do things a little differently.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., who helped lead the meeting with Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., said it would be the first of many discussions to come on how to take back the majority in 2016. Schumer is the chairman of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee and Stabenow is DPCC vice chairman.

One Democratic senator, speaking on background, said the group is looking to rebound from its loss, and the first step was doing a little reflecting on 2014 and discussing what the strategy will be in the minority for the coming two years.

The senator said there seemed to be a desire among the Democrats to work with Republicans to get things done.

Senators come and go and majorities come and go, but weve got to do better around here about taking care of the nations business. I think that was a big part of today, trying to figure out how to do that in this numerical environment and this political environment, the senator said.

See more here:
Senate Democrats Talk Life in Minority, Plot Comeback

By Emily Cahn Posted at 5 a.m. on Dec. 4

Toomey is a Pennsylvania Republican. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Its been more than four years since former Rep. Joe Sestak narrowly lost his bid for Senate and the Pennsylvania Democrathasnt stopped running since.After his 2010 loss to Republican Patrick J. Toomey, Sestak continued to traverse the state to raise cash before officially filing for a rematch against the senator in September.

Weve done 400 events in two years for other candidates, Sestak said in a Wednesdayphone interview with CQ Roll Call. Ive put a quarter-million miles on my car.

Keystone State Democrats laud Sestak for coming within 2 points of defeating Toomey in an otherwise miserable year for the party. But someprivately question whether hes the partys best bet for a high-stakes Senate race.

So far, top state Democrats are mum on whether they would support Sestak in a competitive primary.

Oh its way too early to talk about support, Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., said when asked about Sestaks bid. Its real early. But all I can predict is 16s going to be better than 14.

He got close last time, said outgoing Rep. Allyson Y. Schwartz, D-Pa. But I think people are also open to other names, so there could well be a primary.

Toomey sits near the top of Democrats target list in 2016. President Barack Obama carried Pennsylvania by a 5-point margin in his last campaign. Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton remains popular there, and she would top the ticket if she runs for president. Either way, Toomey will need to attract a swath of split-ticket voters to win re-election.

In 2010, Sestak defeated Sen. Arlen Specter in a pricey primary fight. Pennsylvania Democrats were fully behind Specter, formerly a moderate Republican who switched parties to avoid a primary with Toomey. This situation and Sestaks pugnacious personal style have created an awkward relationship with some top Pennsylvania Democrats.

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Pennsylvania Democrats Hesitate on Sestak Senate Bid