MILL VALLEY, Calif (May 20, 2010) – StopTopTwo.org’s Christina Tobin today released a statement in response to Lt. Governor Abel Maldonado’s recent remarks on KABC-TV promoting Proposition 14.

“I agree with Abel that we need politicians in Sacramento willing to work together to find solutions for the problems this state faces. But Abel is wrong to blame this on our election system when he should be looking in the mirror for the behavior responsible for the dysfunction and gridlock.”

“Our primary election system is not the cause of the disjunction and deadlock in Sacramento. The reason behind the mess in Sacramento falls squarely on typical politicians playing typical political games, just like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Abel Maldonado did to put Proposition 14 on the ballot.”

“It is a complete fantasy to think that Proposition 14 will magically produce more moderates any year soon or that moderates are going to be any less likely to hold the state budget hostage for an unrelated issue. We know this already because it happened in 2009 when Abel Maldonado did it to us, and Proposition 14 is the result of that type of gridlock causing politics.”

“Prop 14 was rushed onto the ballot in a back room budget deal in 2009 without any real discussion. That is not how government is supposed to operate and that has nothing to do with a primary election system.”

“Sacramento is a mess because they don’t explore alternatives or listen to diverse ideas before they rush into making back room budget deals, like the one that put Proposition 14 on the ballot. Moderates, if Abel Maldonado is one, cause dysfunction and gridlock too.”