Fifty percent, plus one. That’s all Proposition 25 requires of Sacramento to pass the state budget. However, the proposed change in the California constitution is raising a few hairs between parties.

California Capitol (Creative Commons)

Many Republicans, like state Assemblywoman Jean Fuller and her possible predecessor Shannon Grove, are strongly opposed to the potential reform the proposition intends.

Fuller and Grove agreed that passing Prop. 25 would enable Democrats in Sacramento to approve unwarranted tax increases despite protest by Republican leaders.

Fuller, who represents Bakersfield and its surrounding area, said such approval "would obligate us to more expenditures and raise taxes."

She also discerned that Democrats would be able to pass any policy they endorse, including tax increases, without the need for Republican votes to gain the two-thirds majority.

On the other hand, Fuller’s opponent, Carter Pope, perceives the measure as an opportunity for responsibility.

"Having a simple majority to approve the budget will allow us to know exactly who to hold accountable if the budget fails," Pope wrote in an e-mail.

California is still enduring one of the longest budget delays in state history. When asked about the motivation behind the ballot measure, Tom Fudge, a blogger with KPBS, said the proposition could simplify the process.

"I think if you only needed a majority vote in the legislature right now, we'd certainly have a budget from the Legislature," he said.

Fudge also said that if Republicans and Democrats "just can’t come together, and if you need a two-thirds majority to pass a budget, that virtually guarantees they’re not going to come together," and agreed that the two-thirds system gives the minority party the deciding vote. In this case, the Republicans would exert authority over whether or not a budget passes.

Currently, the percentage of likely voters in favor of the proposition has stayed consistent with its number in September. Almost half of the voters polled are in favor of Prop. 25.