The initiative is a collection of reforms produced from years of
work by California Forward, the bipartisan group that earlier
supported the top-two primary and the Citizens Redistricting
Commission, which were approved by voters. These reforms should
gradually make the Legislature more accountable to every
Californian. Proposition 31 should do the same. It will help
lawmakers make better decisions and give local governments
sharper tools to solve complex problems. Its most important
section would require that bills be made public at least three
days before a vote in the Legislature. That would help prevent
fiascoes like last month's pension reform, when a bill was
rushed through before experts - or even lawmakers - could
decipher its highly technical language. Proposition 31 also
establishes a two-year budget cycle and requires performance
goals and reviews of all programs. The Legislature would have to
evaluate whether programs are working and decide whether to fix
or kill the ones that aren't. And the meas