The committee is coordinating closely with California Forward, a bipartisan group that advocated for state budgets to be approved by simple majority rather than a two-thirds vote. Voters approved the measure in 2010. Berggruen has promised to spend $20 million to back the Think Long Committee's proposals.
"Twenty million dollars gets a lot of people's attention," Broad says.
Back at the Hotel Cipriani in Venice, Berggruen's BlackBerry buzzes. "I really need to go," he says. He has another meeting. Then, tomorrow, it's back on the Gulfstream IV. The next city, the next deal, the next place in need of a self-appointed savior await.