Steven Greenhut on the Latest Power Grab By California Lawmakers

The main problem with the California Legislature is not that it spends money far faster than it comes in, or squanders it on absurd programs and on the enrichment of those Californians who work for the state, writes Steven Greenhut. Those are symptoms of the real problem, which is that the Legislature recognizes no natural limits on its power.

If a Golden State legislator doesn't like something, expect a proposal to ban it. If a legislator likes a particular idea, expect plans to build a bureaucracy to implement it. The only issues off the table involve fixing those budgetary and governmental problems that the state government is legitimately tasked with handling.