The 51st State - Split CA?

[GHook93]

It is on the table! Can we cross our fingers that it gets done! It would be great for both North and South California!

51st state? Small step forward for long-shot 'South California' plan - Yahoo! News
An effort to turn 13 southern California counties into the nation's 51st state took a small step forward Tuesday but remains an extremely long shot, say experts.

Four members of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors agreed Tuesday to allow a fifth member to convene a statewide meeting on the subject in the fall. Each of the four supervisors stated their objections to the secession idea, but went ahead and approved the idea of at least talking about it when Supervisor Jeff Stone said he would “personally see to it” that private funding, not public money, would be used to hold the meeting.

Since the days of the gold rush, more than 220 campaigns to split California into halves or thirds have been tossed around. Mr. Stone's vision involves persuading 13 counties to secede from the state, which he says raids local coffers to plug budget gaps.

Stone's idea has some merit, some analysts say. It addresses the problematic balance of power between Sacramento and California localities, as well as the political reality that the 13 counties in Stone's secession drive are far more conservative than the rest of the state. But the vision remains legally and politically unrealistic, many add, and is perhaps not the best solution to the problems it seeks address.

“Even if everyone in the 13 counties approved of partition, it would still require the approval of the California Legislature. Though theoretically possible, such approval is practically impossible,” says Jack Pitney, professor of government at Claremont McKenna College.

Nothing like Stone's plan has happened since West Virginia broke off from Virginia during the Civil War – and then “only because a rump legislature approved after the regular legislature joined the Confederacy,” says Professor Pitney.

Stone's South California would not include Los Angeles. In addition to Riverside County, the counties targeted for secession would be Fresno, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Tulare, which include about 13 million people total.

Republicans account for the majority of registered voters in all but two of the 13 counties – San Bernardino and Imperial. For that reason, the idea has merit, says Robert Stern, president of the Center for Governmental Studies.

 

[High_Gravity]

If thats what they want, fuck it, but how will this make things better?

 

[Modbert]

I can't imagine if the most Liberal part of Texas wanted to secede from Texas that the praise would be so forthcoming.

This sets a pretty terrible precedent if it were to go through.

 

[GHook93]

I can't imagine if the most Liberal part of Texas wanted to secede from Texas that the praise would be so forthcoming.

This sets a pretty terrible precedent if it were to go through.

CA is a failing state! Worst rated state bonds in the country. Texas is the best state in the union! Texas shouldn't be split. CA without a doubt should!

 

[Soggy in NOLA]

Personally, I hope CA slides off into the Pacific.

 

[keee keee]

I thought Mexico was the 51 st state. we have half of the Mexicans here We feed, medicate, house, educate, incarerate, and employ illegally.

 

[xsited1]

I recall reading somewhere that there have been at least 27 attempts to split up the state of California since 1850. Maybe it'll happen this time.

 

[Baron]

To split CA is a bad idea, better to stop immigration from Mexico and to vote for the Tea Party.

 

[Soggy in NOLA]

Maybe they can resurrect Emperor Norton.

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

If thats what they want, fuck it, but how will this make things better?

Better economic policies would make a huge difference in California.

 

[shintao]

It is on the table! Can we cross our fingers that it gets done! It would be great for both North and South California!

51st state? Small step forward for long-shot 'South California' plan - Yahoo! News
An effort to turn 13 southern California counties into the nation's 51st state took a small step forward Tuesday but remains an extremely long shot, say experts.

Four members of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors agreed Tuesday to allow a fifth member to convene a statewide meeting on the subject in the fall. Each of the four supervisors stated their objections to the secession idea, but went ahead and approved the idea of at least talking about it when Supervisor Jeff Stone said he would “personally see to it” that private funding, not public money, would be used to hold the meeting.

Since the days of the gold rush, more than 220 campaigns to split California into halves or thirds have been tossed around. Mr. Stone's vision involves persuading 13 counties to secede from the state, which he says raids local coffers to plug budget gaps.

Stone's idea has some merit, some analysts say. It addresses the problematic balance of power between Sacramento and California localities, as well as the political reality that the 13 counties in Stone's secession drive are far more conservative than the rest of the state. But the vision remains legally and politically unrealistic, many add, and is perhaps not the best solution to the problems it seeks address.

“Even if everyone in the 13 counties approved of partition, it would still require the approval of the California Legislature. Though theoretically possible, such approval is practically impossible,” says Jack Pitney, professor of government at Claremont McKenna College.

Nothing like Stone's plan has happened since West Virginia broke off from Virginia during the Civil War – and then “only because a rump legislature approved after the regular legislature joined the Confederacy,” says Professor Pitney.

Stone's South California would not include Los Angeles. In addition to Riverside County, the counties targeted for secession would be Fresno, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Tulare, which include about 13 million people total.

Republicans account for the majority of registered voters in all but two of the 13 counties – San Bernardino and Imperial. For that reason, the idea has merit, says Robert Stern, president of the Center for Governmental Studies.

I guess he doesn't like Riverside? Here is the idiots state.

 

[Contumacious]

The 51st State - Split CA?

HUH?

Wrong info.

They want to split up and join Ensenada - Tijuana - Mexico.

.

 

[shintao]

Here is my country version

 

[Kuros]

What, and add a new star?

Hell, no.

Make 'em join Nevada and Arizona; and the group consisting of Kern and San Bernardino on south would have to take Riverside with them to Arizona.

 

[Baruch Menachem]

Looks like a pretty rational division to me. California is way too big in terms of both electoral votes and geography anyway.

If the libs on this board are right, the alta California would be better off without Blue California anyway.

I think splitting up quite a few states would be a good idea. Make NY a city state, same for Chicago and environs and Detroit and Environs.

Makes sense for Texas as well. They can make 4 new states out of Texas.

That said, they should merge the Dakotas and Montana.

 

[skookerasbil]

I got a better idea........how about just allowing SanFransicko to become its own coountry!!

 

[WorldWatcher]

>


Can California be split?


............................ Sure they just need to approve a measure in the legislature and then have it approved by the United States Congress.



>>>>

 

[FuelRod]

What are they going to do for water?

 

[shintao]

What are they going to do for water?

 

[waltky]

'South California' Secession Moves Forward...

13 California Counties Look to Secede, Create New State
July 14, 2011 - At a time when partisan politics are so divisive that the federal government seems incapable of averting a government default, polarization of state political parties could literally tear states apart.

Disgruntled voters in both California and Arizona are trying to secede from their respective states to escape state governments that they say are on a fast-track in the wrong direction. In California, a state ruled by Democrats, 13 southern and mostly Republican counties are petitioning to create their own state. “Onerous regulations on business” that are driving jobs out of the state and the California legislature’s attempts to balance the budget by “stealing” tax revenue from local governments are two reason why Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone said he is pushing for secession.

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to hold a meeting in late September of representatives from every city and county in California to decide if their grievances can be solved without secession. If not, the group will hammer out the details of creating a new state. “Obviously I touched a nerve that is felt not only among Californians but among people around the country who feel their voices are not being heard,” Stone said. “I’m hoping that the nerve that I touch with a lot of citizens will resonate and we will see dramatic changes in the way we do business in the state and the way we do business in this country.”

The break-away counties include about 13 million people or about a third of California’s population. In order to secede they have to first get approval from the California legislature, which is totally controlled by Democrats, then create a constitution and petition the U.S. Congress to approve their statehood. Despite the obvious obstacle of getting the Democrats who control the state Senate and Assembly on board with his plan, Stone said secession “is not impossible.”

MORE

See also:

51st state would be a red state
July 11, 2011 - 51st state: thirteen conservative counties may look into separating from their blue state.

Thirteen mostly conservative California counties would break away to create a 51st state known as South California under a proposal by an elected official that would have to clear major hurdles to succeed. Republican Jeff Stone has asked fellow members of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors to support a motion to bring together officials from the 13 counties to discuss the idea. A vote on the proposed meeting is scheduled for Tuesday.

Stone said California is too big to govern, a situation that has led the state to raid local government coffers because of runaway spending. He knows it will be a challenge to create another state but doesn't believe it's an impossible task. "We are sending a message," Stone told the Los Angeles Times. The effort marks the latest in scores of secession movements in California dating back to the 1850s that aimed to cleave the state and split counties and cities.

Even if leaders from the 13 counties got serious about secession, the U.S. Constitution says no new state can be formed without the consent of Congress and the state Legislature. An e-mail message left by The Associated Press for Stone's chief of staff, Verne Lauritzen, was not immediately returned. Gil Duran, a spokesman for California Gov. Jerry Brown, said Stone's proposal is "a supremely ridiculous waste of everybody's time." "If you want to live in a Republican state with very conservative right-wing laws, then there's a place called Arizona," Duran told the newspaper.

Stone's version of South California would not include Los Angeles County. Instead, it would encompass coastal Orange and San Diego counties, and more sparsely populated, inland areas such as Fresno, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, Riverside, San Bernardino and Tulare counties. Combined, those counties have about 13 million people. Stone also proposed that South California would have a part-time Legislature with no term limits as well as a newly built capitol building.

Source