Jerry Brown's Big Idea

By: Jonathan Weber

Jerry Brown released his first television ad on Labor Day — he's been saving his money — and it actually contains one very good idea: "We have to return power and decision-making to the local level, closer to the people."

Moving virtually all tax-and-spend authority to Sacramento was among the greatest sins of Proposition 13, as it created a huge disconnect between what people in taxes and the services they receive. Like all things political in California, making this happen will be no easy trick, but good to see Brown making an issue of it.

The ad also touts the great prosperity the state enjoyed during Brown's earlier turn as governor, and suggests that he is a frugal man who is determined to be a frugal governor ("no new taxes without voter approval").