California pension reformers are busy fighting among themselves, thus reducing the chances of an effective pension reform measure any time soon. Other activists who are trying to reduce union power have differing views over what approach to take, such as approving Paycheck Protection or ending collective bargaining. But I met with little-known former GOP presidential candidate John Cox on Wednesday regarding an initiative campaign he is working toward -- one that would increase representation in California.
I write about the meeting here on CalWatchdog and wrote about the representation issue in my newspaper column in April. Bottom line: There are 483,000 Californians for every Assembly member vs. 3,290 New Hampshire residents for every member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. Which people are better represented? Which state is more fiscally responsible? Which state has a legislature dominated by unions? This is a fun idea, even if it goes nowhere beyond a thought experiment. This could really soften the power of the public-sector unions; they would have a much tougher time buying a bigger legislature.
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