A proposition that proponents say will streamline the process of passing California's budgets, and opponents say will make it easier for the Legislature to raise taxes, was the focus of a press conference on the Chico State University campus Wednesday.

Supporters of Proposition 56, the so-called "Budget Accountability Act" on the primary election ballot, said the proposed constitutional amendment would help to halt the legislative wrangling that has delayed passage of the state budget beyond the mandated deadline 22 times in the last 28 years.

Susan Green, a professor in the history department at the university, said, under the current law, a two-thirds majority of the Legislature is necessary to pass the state budget.

The professor, who is also president of the Chico State chapter of the California Faculty Association, the faculty union, said Proposition 56 would reduce the required majority to 55 percent, which would put an end to "some of the budget hijacking."

Beverly Patrick, an office manager for the Chico Unified School District and a state official with the PTA, said, "The late (state) budget is a disaster locally."

Both Green and Patrick said when the budget is not passed on time it makes it difficult for local schools and the university to rationally plan for the coming year.

Green also said this means university students cannot be sure what classes will be offered in the coming semester because of funding questions.

If passed the proposition would halt the pay of legislators if the budget is not passed on time and would deny them the right to consider any other measures until the budget is passed.

Barbara Copeland of the Butte County League of Women Voters said the proposition would send a specific message to the Legislature.

"If you aren't doing your job, we aren't going to pay you," she said.

Green also said the proposal would also mandate the creation of a "rainy day fund" that would require the Legislature to essentially bank 5 percent of the state's revenue annually as a hedge against poor economic times.

The professor told the press conference passing Proposition 56 "is one of the most important things you can do March 2," the date of the primary.

The proposal is not being universally applauded.

A statement circulated by "Californians Against Higher Taxes No on 56," quotes Larry McCarthy, president of the California Taxpayers' Association, as asking "Do you want to make it easier for the Legislature to raise these taxes and increase spending, when runaway spending created our budget problems in the first place?"

The No on 56 faction, in written statements, praised the part of the proposition that would withhold the legislators' salaries if the budget isn't passed on time, and endorsed the creation of the "rainy-day fund," but stood in opposition to the change from a two-thirds majority to a 55 percent majority for the passage of the budget.