Two years ago, as a collateral effect of President Barack Obama’s landslide re-election win in California, Democrats gained two-thirds “supermajorities” in both legislative houses.
It sparked a torrent of private and public speculation over potential impact on legislative issues, such as tax increases and constitutional amendments, that the controlling party might pursue.
However, the supermajorities have not, at least so far, been significant factors in what emerges from the Capitol, despite pressure from liberal groups to use them.
Why? Gov. Jerry Brown is clearly ambivalent, especially on tax increases, blocs of moderate Democratic legislators are reluctant, and legislative leaders have feared backlash if they appeared to be arrogant.
Meanwhile, the supermajorities, especially the Senate’s, may not survive the November elections. Among Capitol politicians and lobbyists, their fate is an overriding preoccupation.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/02/12/6149451/dan-walters-legislative-supermajorities.html#mi_rss=Dan%20Walters
