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UPDATED: Approval Rating For California Legislature At Record Low

Eleanor Walper |
September 28, 2010 | 1:39 p.m. PDT

Staff Reporter

The California Legislature hasn't been able to finalize an agreement to close a $19.1 billion budget deficit.
The California Legislature hasn't been able to finalize an agreement to close a $19.1 billion budget deficit.

Saddled with a struggling economy and a long overdue state budget, Californians are more dissatisfied with the state legislature than ever. 

Only one of 10 California voters approves of the legislature’s job performance, the lowest rating since the Field Poll began recording in 1983.

According to the Field Poll, voters have spread their blame around. A quarter of voters blame Schwarzenegger, with 20 percent blaming Democratic lawmakers and 16 percent blaming Republican Lawmakers. 25 percent of voters fault everyone in the legislature.

“I think it’s an accurate indictment of government in Sacramento,” said Assemblyman Paul Cook, R-Yucca Valley. “There’s enough guilt to go around.” 

The approval rating has been low for quite some time, according to Assemblyman Mike Davis, D-Los Angeles. Davis says it is largely a result of the structure of the state government.  

“The legislature should not be entirely to blame. The difficult system does not allow legislature to deliver,” Davis said. “California is an anomaly, in that it is one of three states that requires a two-thirds vote, so there is more difficulty in passing a budget.”

 

To reach reporter Eleanor Walper, click here.

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