California Democrats take over 2/3rds of both houses of legislature
many budget related matters require 2/3rds vote, and Republicans have been preventing them from doing their jobs.
(11-07) 09:25 PST SACRAMENTO -- California Democrats appear to have picked up a supermajority in both houses of the state Legislature Tuesday night, a surprise outcome that gives the party the ability to unilaterally raise taxes and leaves Republicans essentially irrelevant in Sacramento.
Democrats were long expected to gain a two-thirds advantage in the Senate, but Assembly Speaker John Pérez had downplayed expectations that the party could win a supermajority in the lower house. The party's apparent capture of 54 seats in the 80-member Assembly and 27 in the 40-member Senate would mark the first time in nearly 80 years that one party controlled two-thirds of both houses, according to Senate President pro tem Darrell Steinberg.
A two-thirds majority would not only hand Democrats strong control of the executive and legislative branches, but give them far more power, including the ability to override vetoes by Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown, bypass legislative rules and deadlines and put constitutional reforms before voters.
When combined with the passage of Proposition 30, the governor's budget-balancing tax measure, the results offer lawmakers "a great opportunity to begin a new chapter in California," Steinberg said. He called a supermajority "a tremendous responsibility," and one that is "humbling to have."
The win for Democrats comes the first year that two major changes to election rules, both approved by voters, took effect in California: A new primary system, which allowed the top two voter-getters to proceed to the general election, regardless of their party; and the creation of a an independent citizens' commission to redraw Legislative and Congressional district lines, a change that made many races more competitive. Democrats believe that a third change, the implementation of online voter registration - the system was rolled out in late September - was key for Democratic victories.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Democrats-get-supermajority-in-Legislature-4015861.php#ixzz2BdGjcy7F
