Peter: I’d be curious to see those California figures when you have them. In the meantime, consider that Colorado has a constitutional provision limiting the growth of government to inflation + population growth. It was passed in 1992. Almost the entire political establishment, including Republicans, howled in opposition. One of the few to support it (as a state rep) was Bill Owens, Colorado’s current governor. So it can be done–and those who do it can experience great political success. It was a year ago that NR put Owens on its cover and called him “America’s Best Governor.”