Must Constitutional Change Precede Budget Improvement? A Note on State Deficits and Procedural Change

Passing a workable budget is so fundamental to governance that Californians can be forgiven their disappointments and search for “reform.” But change does not have to rely on voter-ratified constitutional proposals. The California legislature could improve budgets by changing its internal procedures. The legislature could use internal rules and processes to condition how it reviews, negotiates, and amends the budget document. After all, the legislature has great flexibility in setting its own rules for considering how any legislation is considered and approved—and the budget bill is a statutory measure.