think long for ca endorses ca forward measure

8/3/2019 Think Long for CA Endorses CA Forward Measure

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THINK LONG COMMITTEE AND CALIFORNIAFORWARD ACTION FUND JOIN FORCES TO

PROMOTE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY& REFORM ON NOVEMBER 2012 BALLOT

Common-sense Government Performance andAccountability Act will reform state government &budget to give local communities and public a larger

voice

SACRAMENTOToday, two leading independent, nonpartisan citizen

organizations dedicated to reforming and improving state government inCalifornia announced that they are joining forces in support of theGovernment Performance and Accountability Act (GPAA), a ballot measureexpected to qualify for the November 2012 ballot.

The Think Long Committee of California and the California Forward ActionFund have reached a formal agreement to partner in leading the GPAAcampaign effort and provide expertise, organization and financial resourcesto ensure its success.

The Government Performance and Accountability Act would make popular,common-sense improvements to Californias dysfunctional system of budget

and governance, bringing state government closer to the people and givinglocal communities a stronger voice.

The measure, which was filed with the Attorney General by the CaliforniaForward Action Fund in November, would do the following:

Create a two-year state budget cycle; Require performance reviews of all state agencies; Mandate that all bills be published at least three days prior to a

legislative vote; Prohibit the Legislature from creating expenditures of greater than $25

million unless offset by spending cuts or identified funding streams; Require performance goals in state and local government; and, Provide incentives for local governments to work together to

streamline government and improve results.

Initial polling shows that the measure and its individual provisions receivesupport from a significant majority of Californians.


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The measure is consistent with the reform, accountability and transparencyprinciples set forth in Think Longs Blueprint to Renew California, a list ofbipartisan recommendations for fixing state government and rebootingCalifornias future, released in November 2011. The measure also wouldimplement recommendations developed by California Forwardthrough apublic stakeholder process that identified best practices and successful

community-based programs.

Last week, Think Long announced that it was moving its comprehensive taxand revenue reform proposal to the 2014 ballot, but, at the same time,intended to aggressively support other reform measures already filed for2012.

The Government Performance and Accountability Act perfectly reflects boththe growing public demand in California for a more accountable governmentand Think Longs mission of strengthening Californias democracy for the longterm, said Nicolas Berggruen, Chair of the Think Long Committee. We arelooking forward to working together with California Forwardto take historic

steps to increase public confidence in government and are prepared todedicate ample time and resources to this worthy cause.

This measure is a quantum leap forward in the long road to reformingCalifornia and ensuring government is operating more transparently andeffectively for everyday Californians, said Antonia Hernndez, Member of

Think Long and the California ForwardLeadership Council.

We welcome the partnership with the Think Long Committee, said TomMcKernan, Co-Chair ofCalifornia Forward. Think Long and CaliforniaForwardare at the forefront of the movement to reform governance in ourstate. This alliance holds the promise of bringing trust and confidence backto government in California.

Californians spoke loudly and clearly during the three years CaliforniaForwardspent traveling across the state engaging them on the issue of stategovernment reform, said Sunne Wright McPeak, Co-Chair of the CaliforniaForward Action Fund. "They want accountability and transparency ingovernment from top to bottom. Our measure is a critical first step towardswhat Californians want.

Think Long Committee for California is: Nicolas Berggruen (Founder),David Bonderman, Eli Broad, the Honorable Willie Brown, the Honorable GrayDavis, Maria Elena Durazo, the late Matthew Fong, the Honorable RonaldGeorge, Antonia Hernandez, the Honorable Robert Hertzberg, Gerry Parsky,the Honorable Condoleeza Rice, Eric Schmidt, Terry Semel, the HonorableGeorge Shultz and Dr. Laura DAndrea Tyson.

California Forward is: a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization established in2008 with Leon Panetta and Tom McKernan as Co-Chairs. Panetta has sincebeen succeeded by Robert Hertzberg. It was initiated by five major Californiafoundations to develop reforms to improve government performance, move


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government closer to the people, invest in the future and promote a viable,inclusive and responsive democracy.

The California Forward Action Fund is: a separate organization thatpursues reform recommendations made by California Forwardthroughlegislation or ballot measures.

think long for ca endorses ca forward measure

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