Assemblywoman Alyson Huber talks to a crowd of nearly 100 people Wednesday night. Photo by: Roger Phelps

A convention to revise the State Constitution is the only way for California to break out of a cycle of budget crises, according to 10th District Assemblywoman Alyson Huber (D-El Dorado Hills).

Huber drew a full house of nearly 100 people to Amador County supervisors chambers Wednesday. Huber will open a Jackson office April 8, she announced.

"This state budget does not reflect our priorities," Huber said. "A full 93 percent of the budget is mandated by constitutional amendment. It's impossible. If there has been any time in our history to talk reform of the way we do business in California, now's the time.

"We're a little afraid of that, but every page in that 165-page Constitution is someone's special interest," Huber continued. "We have special interests controlling our budget process."

Huber spoke briefly of getting her first job as a teenager and later being a young, head of household, working woman attending Delta Community College. She said that was a good foundation to parlay later into a law degree and a professional life.

Controversial septic-tank legislation is still under fire from herself and other legislators to insert language giving counties some say in flexibility of enforcement, Huber said.

Similarly, Huber said a proposal to raise Pardee Dam should not bear fruit unless and until East Bay Municipal Utility District opens up the planning process to citizens of Amador, Calaveras and Alpine counties, through which the Mokelumne River flows.

Residents peppered Huber with questions on areas of economics, education and how legislation gets done. Huber said because currently only around 10 percent of the population is taking four-year college degrees, she is glad that several bills are in the State Legislature to encourage public-private partnerships in vocational education.

Farmer Jim Spinetta wanted assurance Huber opposes a "dime-a-drink" tax on alcoholic beverages.

"We currently pay $34 a ton tax on grapes," Spinetta said. "With the tax, it would be up to $494."

Huber noted the tax would be levied on producers instead of consumers, and said she opposed it. She gave a sketch of how California has arrived at "overregulation."

"For things that maybe should have been taken to a county board of supervisors, they instead get taken to an Assembly member. The Assembly member says, 'You got a problem, I'm going to fix it for you,' and it gets fixed at the state level. A problem arises around something L.A. Unified didn't do, and now everybody has to do it. I gut check my own problems that way - 'What evidence is there this problem is happening anywhere else?'"

Huber said she chairs a select committee on dropoutism. She drew gasps from the audience by saying the state average high-school dropout rate is 24 percent, and in Stockton Unified School District is 55 percent.

Huber said the biggest need facing legislators now is for constituents advising them on what to cut from the state budget.

"I just don't know, for example, which schools to close, or whether to let all the prisoners out. Tell me where to cut - is it programs for the disabled, or for the elderly, or for kids?"

Resident Mike Delaney wanted Huber's view on "how to fund education in a more stable way."

"You'll have to do a Constitutional Convention to do it," she replied.

Huber's office will be located in the County Administration Center, 810 Court St. in Jackson, and will be open from 9 a.m. to noon on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month.