Impact of the Lackluster Public Awareness of the Budget Impasse

The existence of the missing budget has not sunk in to the public consciousness, let alone the impacts of the impasse on hard working Californians. Sure there have been a bunch of headlines, and Arnold has been stepping up his rhetoric (though polling numbers do not reflect that yet). However, only 12% of the voting public are paying a lot of attention to the budget. 51% are paying no attention what so ever, or just a bit. Perhaps, voters are so used to this type of a debacle, or they are so removed from the actual consequences from the missing budget. Chron:

"I think in some ways you get immune to it," said 39-year-old Crystal Ockenfuss of Santa Rosa, a participant in the survey. "It's never on time and yet things continue to run." [snip]

Still, the survey found an overwhelming majority - 81 percent - said the Legislature's inability to pass a budget on time is a somewhat or very serious problem.

The findings were not surprising given the often abstract nature of government finance, but Mark DiCamillo, poll director, said voter attitudes could sharpen if the budget impasse continues.

In a poll conducted in 2002 - as the budget deadlocked reached two months old - 57 percent of voters said they viewed the problem as "very serious." The recent poll found 43 percent of voters with the same feeling.

Another reason voters might be less concerned today is that fewer people are affected by the late budget. A ruling by the state Supreme Court in 2003, however, clarified that the state is not allowed to pay legislative staffers, and elected and appointed officeholders are not receiving pay.

The consequence of the disengaged public is that the gang of 14 will not feel much pressure to come to their senses. Indeed, despite Arnold's very public condemnation of the hold-outs, the polling numbers may embolden the Senate Republicans even more. Their base knows what they are up to and are rewarding them. They have little motivation to actually come off the proverbial ledge right now. Unfortunately, it may take more time and this public attention to bring this to a resolution. To that end the Democratic leaders and Arnold need to continue the public education and engaged voters need to discuss it with their social networks.