The state water bond initiative in 2014 was supposed to allocate $2.7 billion to water storage. As of 2018, no water-storage projects had been approved although many wetlands restoration and endangered species habit projects had been identified. This is illustrative of a serious problem in accountability. Voters approve initiatives under one set of assumptions, then find those who administer the bonds have different priorities.

The California State Senate hired former Attorney General Eric Holder to provide legal advice on suing the federal government. The Attorney General of California announces a new challenge to the federal government almost weekly. Californians need to know the cost of retaining outside counsel, like former Attorney General Holder, and the amount of resources taken away from important law-enforcement purposes, including criminal and environmental law, when state Attorney General lawyers are diverted to politically directed lawsuits.

All expenditures intended to influence a California campaign should have their sources identified. At every election, mysterious committees send out hit-pieces on candidates, without disclosing who is actually funding them.

Candidates should be encouraged to limit the amount of money they spend in campaigns. Limits on campaign spending should be encouraged to the maximum extent permitted under First Amendment law. Until the US Supreme Court reverses its position that money is speech, candidates who choose not to abide by voluntary expenditure limits should be identified clearly by social media and news media whenever the candidate’s name is mentioned.