State’s Crisis Compounded

California’s Constitution has carried a provision for voter recall of the governor for nearly a century, but it has never been triggered. Today, that changes. What has happened is a far cry from the grass-roots reforms envisioned by Gov. Hiram Johnson and his Progressive Party when they handed voters the power of the initiative, referendum and recall.

This recall is the creature of the dollars and political ego of Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista), who put up more than $1.5 million to finance a previously lethargic petition drive against Gov. Gray Davis.

Of course, if Davis were popular or respected, even Issa’s millions probably wouldn’t have bought this result. But if a recall election can be so easily achieved, without clear malfeasance, politics becomes even more a pure money game.

The recall election may be held in September or October. It’s suddenly unclear whether voters will, on the same ballot, select a choice for Davis’ successor, to take office only if the recall succeeds. Everyone had assumed it would work that way, and that the list would include Issa and possibly actor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Under that scenario, the winner would take office with a plurality, perhaps as little as 15% of the total vote.

Now, out of the blue, Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante says the state Constitution does not really demand the choice of a successor. The Constitution does explicitly say that when there’s a vacancy in the governorship, the lieutenant governor becomes the chief executive.

Too bad Johnson didn’t think of such details. If the state Supreme Court has to decide this issue, it should act swiftly. Uncertainty will only add to the state’s woes. Legal experts are mixed on the issue but seem to lean toward a simultaneous selection of a Davis successor.

Unfortunately, the Progressives also did not specify actions that would warrant a recall. Davis has certainly dithered over major crises, including power shortages and the budget deficit. But by that measure, dozens of governors might be toast in this battered economy. He is a shameless fund-raising hound, but so is President Bush.

California, 24 days into the fiscal year without a spending plan, is sliding toward a fiscal abyss, and the recall has hardened the warring parties. The most likely result is that the Legislature will simply shove the problem off to next year, when members are up to their teeth in reelection campaigns.

Unfortunately, the dysfunction may only have begun. If the recall succeeds and other candidates are on the ballot, a Republican winner would face a Legislature with overwhelming Democratic majorities just waiting to stomp on any initiative from the governor’s office. There might not be any well-known Democrat on the ballot, if the party holds ranks in supporting Davis.

A political recall isn’t the end of the world, but for California the timing and circumstances could not be worse.