Pending initiatives may alter state's governance ways.

SACRAMENTO'S dysfunctional ways, so much a part of the recall campaign, could be put to more votes next year if a series of initiatives wind up on the ballot.

"It may be the opening of the door to a different era in politics," said Michael Alvarez, professor of political science at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. "The electorate may be ready for some new ideas."

Perhaps most significant is the "budget accountability act," which would reduce the threshold in the Legislature to pass a budget to 55 percent from the current two-thirds. This measure, backed by Democrats and labor, needs nearly 600,000 signatures by Nov. 17 to qualify for the ballot. But it will be strongly resisted by Republicans who as the minority party have relied on the two-thirds requirement as leverage against the Democrats.

In fact, California Chamber of Commerce President Allan Zaremberg is co-sponsoring an initiative that would increase the threshold for the Legislature to pass regulatory fees from a simple majority to two-thirds. Like the budget measure, this initiative would need nearly 600,000 signatures by Nov. 17.

Also up for grabs is repeal of the vehicle license fee. State Sen. Tom McClintock launched the initiative just days after the first notices containing the VLF hike went out in August. It, too, needs nearly 600,000 signatures, but the deadline isn't until next Jan. 12. One possible supporter is the other Republican recall candidate, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has been campaigning against the higher fees.

Work is also progressing on an initiative to restore the state's open primary, which was thrown out in 2000 by the U.S. Supreme Court. State Controller Steve Westly, former L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan and L.A. Chamber of Commerce Chairman George Kieffer are trying to develop an open primary initiative that responds to the high court's objections. This one will likely wait until November 2004.

News Rack Update

This week will see another round in the battle between publishers and community activists over the proliferation of newspaper racks in the city as the L.A. City Council's public works committee holds a hearing on the latest version of the ordinance.

In May, the L.A. Public Works Department passed an ordinance that, for the first time, would have required that news racks be licensed by the city and that permit fees be paid into a fund to support efforts to enforce the ordinance. In return, newspaper publishers won concessions allowing the number of news racks per location to increase to eight from three and that all current news racks be grandfathered in.

That encountered a firestorm of opposition from business and community groups, which have formed a coalition to push the city to crack down on the number of news racks.

As of Oct. 1, negotiations were continuing. The community coalition wants to keep the limit of three, publishers have been pushing for a cap of six, and the office of the Chief Legislative Analyst has recommended four.

Staff reporter Howard Fine can be reached by phone at [phone], ext. 227, or by e-mail at [e-mail].