“I remember a reform when my father was governor, and that was the full-time legislature and the idea was if you pay them more and have them work longer, then they would be the model legislature – well that just hasn't proved to be the case.

It is important that we try to get some kind of balance – some kind of competition back in the legislature so that legislators have to be concerned about what they do.”

--Governor Jerry Brown

JERRY BROWN
CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR
1975 - 1983

“There are times when using the initiative is absolutely necessary because the legislature won't act – take for example redistricting – all of the incumbents got together and agreed that they were going to protect those who were in office – and now virtually all of them are in ‘safe' districts so we don't have any real competition for those seats any longer – let's have an independent commission (of retired justices) draw those boundary lines. This would bring about a good structural change.”

Governor George Deukmejian

“What Gov. Deukmejian is describing, other states do this, California should, because there is an inherent, flagrant conflict of interest in having the legislature (draw their own districts) – the ins stay in and the outs stay out.”

--Governor Pete Wilson

PETE WILSON
CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR
1990 - 1998

“Let me tell you why all the governors are talking about redistricting – because governors have to govern somewhere near the center – if you have legislators who only feel jeopardy from their extreme right or left in a primary and no jeopardy in the general election – then they're not helpful in spending restraint, they're not helpful in moderating decisions.”

Governor Gray Davis

GRAY DAVIS
CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR
1998 - 2003

“In the past three election cycles only 4 out of California's 459 congressional and legislative seats changed hands.  There was more turnover in the Hapsburg monarchy than in the California legislature
 I ask you to work with me to create an independent commission to fix a political system that has become petrified by self-interest.  California certainly is not alone in this.  No state legislature in U.S. history has put a redistricting reform on the ballot.  California though can be the first, we can be the leader" 

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR
2003 - PRESENT