CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT

Public Attitude Towards

Dispelling the myth that
California is ungovernable
www.SovereignCA.org Research by Marcus Ruiz Evans Page 2
You would not be off if you believed that
Californias government doesnt work, or
is the worst government ever.
Many national news sources in just the
last few years have said that California is
ungovernable, while many others have
said California is the worst run state.
We have a lot of issues here in
California, and many things that are
holding us back, but demonizing
Sacramento doesn't solve these
problems or move us forward. We
believe some criticism of Sacramento
is fair, yet much of it is out of context -
even to the point that it's inaccurate.
IS CALIFORNIA
UNGOVERNABLE?
As one of the top 10 economies in the
world (equal to the size of Russia and
Brazil), we need our leaders to act
more like they are running a powerful
nation on the world stage, as opposed
to running an ordinary state. This
means that Sacramento has to take
on more responsibilities. We believe
that Sacramento can do this. This
white paper by Sovereign California is
designed to support this idea.
Were not saying that Sacramento runs
perfectly but the image that Californians
have and the reality are seriously distorted. "
SovereignCalifornia.org
www.SovereignCA.org Research by Marcus Ruiz Evans Page 3
When Sacramento is compared to 49 other states:
Californias government has one of the best track records at managing money. 1.
California has the most professional legislature in the Nation. 2.
Californians have the most control over their government. 3.
California has the least bureaucratic government. 4.
California ranks at the top at ghting corruption. 5.
When Sacramento is compared to the Federal Government:
Polls show Californians trust Sacramento far more than Washington, D.C. 1.
Californias leaders work together far better than Federal leaders. 2.
Californias Government is more transparent than the Federal government. 3.
Californias Government is better at balancing a budget than the Federal government. 4.
Californias Government is overall just as capable as the Federal government. 5.
ON THE NEXT PAGES YOU WILL FIND A LIST OF FACTS DISPELLING
POPULAR MYTHS ABOUT SACRAMENTO FROM US AT SOVEREIGNCA.ORG
Californians' belief that their elected leaders have issues with corruption,
managing money well, being effective, enlarging bureaucracy, and being out
of the voters control is absolutely correct. Our leaders do have these issues.
HOWEVER, the belief that California is worse at governing itself than the 49 other
states or the Federal Government is simply not true.
www.SovereignCA.org Research by Marcus Ruiz Evans
MYTH:
Page 4
An academic group designed to
study California concluded that
Californians share a common
identity in seeing success as our
birthright.
The rst ever statewide poll on
opinions toward state government
found that Californians do believe
that their government can work well;
it just needs improvement. They also
generally had enough trust in their
elected leaders to believe that they
need longer terms in ofce.
Californians say change possible with dialogue
and healthier system 2011, California Forward
The California fix: It takes a community 2009,
California Forward
Californians have no faith in Sacramento.
FACT: Californians believe in their
State government.
www.SovereignCA.org Research by Marcus Ruiz Evans
MYTH:
Page 5
Sacramento is the worst at managing money.
In the last decade,
California ranked well in
comparison to other states
in regards to financial
management:

The Public Coordinating Council of the
National Association of State Retirement
Administrators has ranked public retirement
system management and administration since
2002. Thirty one states make the list - almost
half of the states aren't even mentioned for
any sort of excellence. Of those 31 states, only
11 are mentioned more than once. And of
those mentioned more than once, only Texas
and Missouri are as good as California.
www.nasra.org/ppcc
Report
21 States Pension Systems Not Fiscally
Sound:
A new report examines the nancial health of
state pension systems.
By: Mike Maciag, Governing States & Localities, 11/29/12
http://www.governing.com/blogs/by-the-numbers/state-
pension-systems-funded-ratios-nancial-health.html
A study by investment research rm
Morningstar, Inc., published earlier this week
assesses the nancial health of each state
system, highlighting a wide disparity in the
actuarial adequacy of funding levels.
Of the map linked on the article only seven
states are doing substantially better than
California at managing their money. California
does as well or better than 43 other states.
Of the six times that Money Management
Letter has given out awards for excellence in
investment for governments, California won in
2005, 2006, and 2007.
http://www.moneymanagementintelligence.com/default.html
Federal report Grading the states, in
2008, said that California was excellent in:
Capital planning, project monitoring, inter-
government coordination, performance
auditing and evaluation, online services and
information. This means California does an
excellent job allocating funds, ensuring that
funds are spent correctly, and evaluating after
the fact how funds were spent.
http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/
reports/2008/03/03/grading-the-states-2008-report

State Budget Update: Spring 2014 by National
Conference of State Legislatures
http://www.ncsl.org/documents/scal/SPRING_SBU_2014_free.pdf
California is only one of nine states, or 1/5 of
the Nation that has actually spent less than
its projected budget.

Table 2: Budget Agency Functions From
Budget Processes In The States by National
Association of State Budget Ofcers, Summer
2008, PG 9-10
http://www.nasbo.org/sites/default/les/BP_2008.pdf
California is one of three states in the
Nation that has the most extensive
review process for overseeing the state
budget. Forty seven other states have less
exhaustive review processes set up to
FACT: California has one of the best track
records at managing money.
ensure budget oversight.

This isnt a new standard for California this
level of oversight goes back 20 years.

Table E: Budget agency functions from FROM
BUDGET PROCESSES IN THE STATES BY
National Association of State Budget Ofcers,
December 1989, Pg 10-11
http://www.nasbo.org/sites/default/les/BP_1989.pdf
In 1989, California had the most extensive
review process for the budget of any state in
the Nation.

California was one of three in the Nation
recognized for excellence in Government
nance by International Review in 2014.
http://www.gfoa.org/award-programs/awards-excellence-
government-nance/gfoa-s-2014-awards-excellence-
government-nance

California is one of four states in all of U.S.
recognized for excellence in government
nance in 2013.
http://www.gfoa.org/award-programs/awards-excellence-
government-nance/awards-excellence-government-
nance-award-0
California is the only state to receive an award
two years in a row by the International Review
Organization.

Center for Achievement in Excellence in
Financial Reporting 2010-2014 - California won
the most awards of any state every year
2010 http://www.gfoa.net/cafrwinners/2010/index.html
2011 http://www.gfoa.net/cafrwinners/2011/index.html
2012 http://www.gfoa.net/cafrwinners/2012/index.html
2013 http://www.gfoa.net/cafrwinners/2013/index.html
www.SovereignCA.org Research by Marcus Ruiz Evans
MYTH:
Page 6
California has one of the few highly professional legislatures
According to a study by Columbia University, California is one of the relatively few state legislatures that are
"highly professionalized." In comparison to most other states, California has one of the more-professionalized
legislatures. Pg 58 and 63.
Professional legislatures were found by the study to possess an increased intelligence
capacity over less professional legislatures. Pg 59
Who Blinks First? Legislative Patience and Bargaining with Governors by THAD KOUSSER, University of California,
San Diego and JUSTIN H. PHILLIPS, Columbia University , LEGISLATIVE STUDIES QUARTERLY, XXXIV, Columbia
University, February 1 2009
http://www.columbia.edu/~jhp2121/publications/WhoBlinksFirst.pdf

A more professional legislature has been shown to be one that delivers quality governance:
Professionalism has been used to explain a legislaturesincreased legislative efciency. Pg 5
Legislators in professional chambers also obtain more success in public policy implementation. Pg 6
In general, more professional legislatures have a higher percentage of members identifying as full-time
legislators. Pg 6
Explaining Public Attitudes on State Legislative Professionalism by Lilliard Richardson, David Konisky, Jeff Milyo,
University of Missouri, October 2008
http://web.missouri.edu/~milyoj/les/State%20Legislative%20Professionalism%20APR.pdf
For the last 30 years, California has had the best staff support
One of the ways that the Columbia University study in 2009 measured professionalism of a states legislature was
by the amount of support staff they had to process all of the governing information they needed to consider. For
the last 30 years, California has had more support staff to support its legislature than any other state in the Union,
making the California legislature the most resourced legislature of all 50 states.
Size Of State Legislative Staff: From 1979, 1988, 1996, 2003, 2009 By National Conference of State Legislatures
http://www.ncsl.org/research/about-state-legislatures/staff-change-chart-1979-1988-1996-2003-2009.aspx

FACT: California has the most
professional legislature in the nation.
Sacramento is the least functional government of all of the states.
Table 1. Red, White and Blue Legislatures from full and part-time legislatures by National Conference of State Legislatures , 6/1/2009
http://www.ncsl.org/research/about-state-legislatures/full-and-part-time-legislatures.aspx
California is one of the four most professional legislatures out of all 50 states.
Governing States and Localities by Kevin Smith, Alan Greenblatt, John Buntin, CQ
Press: A division of Congressional Quarterly Inc., 2005
Californias legislature is one of the best equipped and
most professional in the country.
www.SovereignCA.org Research by Marcus Ruiz Evans
MYTH:
Page 7
In California, a state with a long, policy-specific
constitution that provides for a high degree of
direct democracy, they often attempt to amend the
constitution instead. While the majority of political
scientists wring their hands about this tendency, it
undeniably gives Californians a role in shaping their
constitution that voters in other regions of the county
like New England lack.
Page 83
In California, voters have used initiatives to impose some
of the Nations strictest term limits on elected ofcials
Page 88
Unlike other judges in pure appointive systems, however,
judges appointed in California serve short initial terms
and are then subject to retention elections
Page 272
California may be the best example of a state that
had such a progressive reaction against machines.
The state was hostile toward parties, lacked any type
of patronage system, and held nonpartisan elections.
Precinct and war organizations were weak, while
individual candidates were assertiveCalifornia was
the exception to the rule. Throughout the 1800s,
most states essentially treated parties as private
associations and choose not to regulate them.
Page 140
Governing States and Localities by Kevin Smith,
Alan Greenblatt, John Buntin, CQ press: A division of
Congressional Quarterly Inc., 2005
Californias democracy is not at all like Americas,
as conceived by founders such as James Madison...
California thus stands as a rare, and perhaps
unique, counterpoint to the many countries whose
main problem is a lack of democracy.

The peoples will The Economist, April 20 2011

http://www.economist.com/node/18563638
They turn voters into legislators, since a successful
initiative becomes statute. In states like California,
initiatives can even turn voters into founding fathers
who amend the state constitution. There are worlds
of nuance in the detail. The package that California
chose was especially powerful.

Origin of the species, The Economist, April 20 2011

http://www.economist.com/node/18548119?zid=311&ah=308cac674cccf554ce65
cf926868bbc2

The Legislature does what it wants regardless of the will of the voters.
FACT: Californians have the most control over their
government compared to all other states.
www.SovereignCA.org Research by Marcus Ruiz Evans
MYTH:
Page 8
To support this concept above, a comparison
of the size of each legislature in each of
the 50 states, shows that California is in
the bottom 3rd of states with the smallest
legislatures. This is even though California
has the largest population of any state in
the Nation by far. Two-thirds of American
states, which are much smaller in population
than California, have larger, more bloated
governments.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_
of_U.S._state_governments
California has the lowest amount of
government workers per capita in the
Nation, except for 4 states: Florida, Illinois,
Arizona, Nevada. California state government
employees number some 400,000 in a
general population of over 38 million. In
other words, just 1.08% of the population
are state employees. Only four other states
have a smaller percentage of their population
that works for the state government while 45
other states have a higher percentage of their
population working for the state government.
Meanwhile, the Federal government employs
about 1.4% of the total national population
meaning that California has a lower per capita
ratio of government workers to the population
than the Federal government.
This data is the result of comparing the
population of all states and the Nation in 2011:
Cumulative Estimates of Resident Population
Change for the United States, Regions,
States, and Puerto Rico and Region and State
Rankings: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2011 from
State Totals: Vintage 2011 by US Census
http://www.census.gov/popest/data/state/
totals/2011/index.html
...to the amount of state government workers
for each state and the nation in 2011:
Table 8.5: state government employment
(full-time equivalent) for selected functions,
by state: 2011 from Book of the States 2013,
Chapter 8: State Management, Administration,
and Demographics By Audrey Wall, Council of
State Governments, Monday, July 1, 2013
http://knowledgecenter.csg.org/kc/system/
les/8.5_2013.pdf

California was ranked the least bureaucratic
state in comparison to all other states in 2000.
Pg 309 Governing States and Localities by Kevin
Smith, Alan Greenblatt, John Buntin, CQ Press: A
division of Congressional Quarterly Inc., 2005
Cal ifornia New Jersey Vi rgi ni a Tennessee Al abama Mi nnesota Arkansas Kansas Al aska Maine
0
100000
200000
300000
400000
500000
600000
Col umn F
Californians expect their legislators to serve almost three times as
many people as legislators in other states are expected to serve.
The graph below shows how many people each legislator serves for
each state in America.
The Size of State Legislatures By BRUCE BARTLETT, New York Times, December 31, 2013 http://economix.blogs.nytimes.
com/2013/12/31/the-size-of-state-legislatures/
The California legislature is the most bloated bureaucracy in America.
Californians expect the most
out of their legislators in
comparison to any other
state in America by far.
FACT: California has the least bureacratic
government in the nation.
www.SovereignCA.org Research by Marcus Ruiz Evans
MYTH:
Page 9
California has the most transparent laws on corruption
California has the most organized and easily searchable set of laws on ghting
against corruption, meaning that it has provided the easiest to understand interface
on its corruption laws. Therefore, Californians can easily understand the state's anti-
corruption laws and hold their elected ofcials accountable.
LINKS TO STATES LEGISLATIVE ETHICS AND LOBBYING LAWS BY National Conference of State Legislatures, March
2013 - http://www.ncsl.org/research/ethics/50-state-legislative-ethics-and-lobbying-laws.aspx
Americas Least Corrupt States 24/7 Wall street, March 22 , 2012
http://247wallst.com/special-report/2012/03/22/americas-least-corrupt-states/
California was ranked the fourth least corrupt state out of 50.
California: Corruption Risk Report Card by State Integrity Investigation, Center for Public Integrity
California was ranked as the fourth least corrupt state in the nation.
http://www.stateintegrity.org/california
"California: The story behind the score" by Carol Goodhue Shull and Robert Shull, State Integrity
Investigation 2012
http://www.stateintegrity.org/california_story_subpage
States with the most lax anti-corruption laws By Michael B. Sauter, Charles B. Stockdale, NBC News, March 27 2012
http://business.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/03/27/10812551-states-with-the-most-lax-anti-corruption-laws
California was listed as one of the top three states where politicians are honest and information readily
available to the public on their actions.
California 2nd most aggressive of 50 states in pursuing convictions for corruption
"Grading the nation: How accountable is your state?" by Caitlin Ginley, Center for Public Integrity 2012
http://www.publicintegrity.org/2012/03/19/8423/grading-nation-how-accountable-your-state
"The most corrupt state(s) in America" by Reid Wilson, Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/01/22/the-most-corrupt-states-in-america/

Sacramento is the softest place on corruption.
FACT: California ranks at the top
of fghting corruption.
www.SovereignCA.org Research by Marcus Ruiz Evans Page 10
CALIFORNIA STATE VS. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Public opinion polls often show that citizens place
more trust in state and local governments than in
the federal government. Pg 16
Governing States and Localities by Kevin Smith,
Alan Greenblatt, John Buntin, CQ Press: A division of
Congressional Quarterly Inc., 2005

Californians have said they trust their state elected
ofcials far more than their federally elected
ofcials:
http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/other/APR_CalLegislature1211.pdf
2011 - 25% approve of State Legislature, 55%
disapprove of Legislature (when California's
government was most disliked)
http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/other/APR_Congress1211.pdf
2011 - 20% approve of Federal Congress, 75%
disapprove
http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/other/APR_Obama1211.pdf
2011 - 43% disapprove of President Obama
http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/other/APR_Brown1211.pdf
2011 - 30% disapprove of Governor Brown
There is a lot about how Californians dont trust
their state government, however, Californians trust
their Federal government even less.
Few Californians trust their state or federal
government by Stephen Frank, California Political
news and views, 12/14/2011
http://capoliticalnews.com/2011/12/14/few-californians-trust-
their-state-or-federal-government/
As to the national government, Congress should
hope for approval ratings like those of the California
Legislature.
CALIFORNIAS GOVERNMENT CAN WORK TOGETHER
BETTER THAN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Pew Research Center: America Is More Polarized Than
Ever By Justine Hofherr, Boston.com, June 12, 2014
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/2014/06/12/pew-research-center-
america-more-polarized-than-ever/K46PCkzrWPu9rKeIKR2MLK/story.html
The share of Americans who express consistently
conservative or consistently liberal opinions has
doubled over the past two decades, from 10 percent
to 21 percent.
Republicans with unfavorable opinions of
Democrats has jumped from 17 to 43 percent,
while Democrats with highly negative opinions of
Republicans has more than doubled from 16 to 38
percent.
New Study Shows California Legislature
Less Polarized Following Reforms by USC
Schwarzenegger Institute, February 25, 2014
http://216.243.142.19/institute-in-action/article/new-study-
shows-california-legislature-less-polarized-following-reforms
Meanwhile, research shows that ideological
polarization between the parties has increased in
the U.S. Congress during the time period in which
we show it has declined in the California state
legislature.
From: The Adoption of Electoral Reforms and
Ideological Change in the California State
Legislature
By Christian Grose, USC Schwarzenegger Institute,
2013 pg 2
CALIFORNIAS GOVERNMENT IS MORE TRANSPARENT
THAN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
California recently passed massive transparency
bills: California Voters Tell Cities That Transparencys
Non-Negotiable by Nancy Scola, Next City, June 30, 2014
http://www.publicceo.com/2014/06/california-voters-tell-cities-
that-transparencys-non-negotiable/
Big transparency win by California Legislature by
Matthew Grant Anson, CA FWD, 06/14/2013
http://www.cafwd.org/reporting/entry/california-legislature-
makes-big-win-for-transparency
In contrast:
In the last 10 years President George W. Bush
introduced redacted reports which removed
information from the public that was previously
available to the public.
Inside the Saudi/9-11 cover-up By Paul Sperry, New
York Post, December 15, 2013
http://nypost.com/2013/12/15/inside-the-saudi-911-coverup/
President Obama has been rated the least
transparent in history
Barack Obama: Least Transparent President in
History by Joe Otto, Before its news, March 18, 2014
http://beforeitsnews.com/politics/2014/03/barack-obama-
least-transparent-president-in-history-2606158.html
CALIFORNIAS GOVERNMENT IS BETTER AT
BALANCING A BUDGET THAN THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT
California passed a balanced budget law in 2004
California Proposition 58, Balanced Budget Act
(March 2004) Ballotpedia
http://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_58,_Balanced_Budget_Act_
(March_2004)
Its a decade later and the Federal government still
has not passed this law.
Balanced budget amendment Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balanced_Budget_Amendment
CALIFORNIAS GOVERNMENT IS AS CAPABLE AS THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
today, the most professional legislatures have
resources that rival Congress. Pg 204
Californias legislature is one of the best equipped
and most professional in the country. Pg 205
Governing States and Localities by Kevin Smith,
Alan Greenblatt, John Buntin, CQ Press: A division of
Congressional Quarterly Inc., 2005
Californians Trust State
Goverment Far More Than
Federal Government