Budget Initiative Supporters Claim Enough Signatures

A coalition of public interest groups say they´ve gathered enough signatures to put a budget reform measure before voters next March.

The proposal would change the state constitution so that a budget could be adopted by 55 percent of the Legislature. Currently, it takes a two-thirds majority to approve a budget.

Many critics say the super-majority is a big reason that California´s budget is rarely adopted on time. Lawmakers have not approved a budget by the June 15 deadline since 1986.

The reform initiative would also prevent the governor and legislators from collecting their salaries and expenses when the budget is late.