There's plenty bad: A provision that allows Sacramento to deny schools their Prop. 98 minimum without ever restoring the money to the guaranteed base. Thus, a permanent, lower base would be created. Also unsettling: Handing the governor unilateral power to cut an unbalanced budget without legislative approval. California's governor already has more budgeting power than the president.

this plan is nuts. Leaving aside whether it should be judges or citizens drawing the lines, these map-drawers would be selected through some overly complex, Rube Goldberg-type process. The measure requires redistricting for next year's elections, a logistical impossibility. There shouldn't be a disruptive, mid-decade redistricting anyway. And worse: Each new redistricting plan would need to be ratified by a statewide vote. It's a full employment act for political consultants.

The pharmaceutical industry sponsored Prop. 78 because it feared Prop. 79. It ran an $80-million campaign promoting 78 and attacking 79, hoping to confuse us. The drug companies wouldn't really mind if we voted against both measures. Fine with me.