Some aspects of a state budget deal, should one ever emerge, are likely to require voter approval, meaning a special election is a good possibility in 2009. And various interests already are trying to get their own proposals on the ballot.

An initiative submitted by the California Teachers Association would raise the state sales tax by a penny, raising about $5 billion a year, which would be earmarked for education. Public schools would take a hit of up to about $10 billion if any of the proposals now pending in Sacramento are adopted. The initiative still is being reviewed by the attorney general, but petitions could be circulating soon.

Meanwhile, two initiatives surfaced last week to rewrite the two-thirds rule. Both were submitted by a law firm that frequently represents Democrats in political cases. One would effectively eliminate it for the state budget, the other would eliminate it for raising taxes other than property taxes.

Presumably, both sponsors have the resources (i.e., cash for signature gathering) to get their measures on the ballot. Between them, they could set up an interesting fight over California's rules for raising and spending public money.

-- Jim Sweeney