Mediators Give California Budget Crisis Advice
From the Sacramento Bee's Political Editor Amy Chance, Q&A: Mediators brainstorm on how to fix the state budget process
As California's longest budget stalemate in state history ground to a close, six professional mediators met with The Bee's Capitol Bureau last week to offer their thoughts on building a more functional state budget process.
Their advice in a nutshell: Improve lawmakers' communication skills, train them and their aides in mediation techniques, set up a structured negotiation process long before budget deadlines approach, agree on common goals, build trust by reaching incremental agreements – and don't expect perfection.
– Amy Chance, Bee Political Editor
For full Q&A, click here.
Comments (1)
Read through and enter the discussion by using the form at the endSoph575 - September 22, 2008 11:20 PM
To learn more about California's budget-making process try the California Budget Challenge. The Challenge allows you to create your own version of the state budget-deciding what to spend and what to tax. You can then alert your legislators and the governor of the policy choices you made. It's a great way to learn about the trade-offs involved. Try it! www.next10.org/challenge