text: They had their voice: 55 electoral votes.
  
  In California itself their voice was heard when they reelected Governor Medfly in 2011.
  
  California, with 12% of the United States population, has one-third of the nation's welfare recipients. It has the third highest per capita spending on welfare among the states, as well as the highest spending on welfare at $6.67 billion. The state's debt is a bit over $132 billion.
  
  California levies a 13.3% maximum marginal income tax, has a state sales tax of 7.5%, with local governments levying additional sales taxes.
  
  All real property is taxable annually.
  
  The Electoral College prevented California from exporting their mess to the nation as a whole.