Here's a positive agenda to take California from "worst to first":
1. Give cities, counties, and school districts freedom to negotiate labor costs pensions and benefits. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's 2011 "Act 10" reforms would be a good start: paycheck protection for public employees, plus restricting collective bargaining to wages.
2. Pension reform is a must, yet already the state legislature is planning on going backwards. Luis Alejo (D-Watsonville) introduced AB 160, which would exempt the Teamsters unions from the reforms. Not OK.
3. Discipline and restrict the PERB board, which has struck down the 70% voter approved pension reforms in San Diego. Shame on Gov. Brown for not standing with San Diegans.
4. Eliminate the state income tax, which could be balanced with substantial cuts in overlapping agencies, followed by a rise in the state sales tax. At least individuals would have some choice in how much they paid in taxes.
5. A part-time state legislature, like in Texas, would be another step in the right direction.
6. Enact "Right to work", since forcing union membership on certain employees diminishes their paycheck, in the first place. (It's also immoral)
7. School Choice, SB 451, is up for vote in the state senate, will force competition and efficiency in our schools. A voucher would be better. Give tax credits to parents who homeschool their children.
8. Welfare to work (not "welfare to want"), please!