Posted on 07/08/2009 9:13:18 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
To put it charitably, Assembly Speaker Karen Bass is not having a good 2009. In February, the Los Angeles Democrat was one of a handful of state leaders who put together five budget-related ballot measures that included $16 billion in tax hikes.
She then went along with the dishonest decision to omit any mention of the hikes in ballot language.
When voters figured out the truth and overwhelmingly rejected the measures in a May 19 special election, Bass proclaimed she had gotten the message.
Within days, however, Bass joined in efforts to spin the May 19 results as somehow having nothing to do with opposition to tax hikes. She also began closed-door meetings with Assembly Democrats on, yes, new tax-increase schemes.
Along with Senate President Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, she then orchestrated efforts to impose tax hikes on a simple majority vote, flagrantly disregarding the plain intent of the California Constitution.
Soon afterward, in a June 27 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Bass offered the clearest view yet of her mind-set.
She likened to terrorists the handful of talk-radio hosts who supported recalls of the lawmakers who broke public vows to oppose tax hikes.
“I don't know why we allow that kind of terrorism to exist. I guess it's about free speech, but it's extremely unfair,” she said.
This is beyond belief: One of the most powerful elected officials in California questions why strong dissent is allowed to exist.
Now there is fresh evidence of Bass' otherworldly perspective: She is boycotting negotiations meant to close California's massive budget deficit because Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is pressing for fundamental reforms in how the state operates. Bass says now is not the time to raise such issues.
Earth to Karen: Sacramento is in the fix it's in precisely because it always balks at and blocks cost-saving reforms of the exact sort the governor is proposing.
Schwarzenegger is absolutely right to insist on changing the absurdly generous formula for calculating pensions for state employees.
He's absolutely right to want to finally implement the welfare reforms that have had such amazing success in most other states.
He's absolutely right to want to end the systemic fraud within the corrupt-by-design In-Home Supportive Services program.
He's absolutely right to want school districts to be able to save money and focus on education by contracting out for services such as payroll, food preparation and janitorial work.
He's absolutely right to want to end the rules that virtually ensure every agency's budget goes up every year no matter what.
These are not radical proposals to shut down broad swaths of state government. They are all the epitome of common sense. If Steinberg were administered a lie-detector test, we suspect the Senate leader would agree.
But not Bass. The Assembly leader somehow thinks the Sacramento status quo is a good thing.
And if you don't agree, you just might be a terrorist.
A deficit of leadership, decency and respect for taxpayers.
Brought to you by the Dems
What a dumBass.
Good find. Most Californians don’t even know who Bass and Steinberg are. They think Ahhnold is the only problem. They don’t pay close attention to the legislature.
Here's a Steinberger Bass:
The Austrian deserves some credit for his strong opposition to the rat plans. He has gone back to his positions in 2005. The public employee unions defeated his ideas and he changed his ways. Now is the time for fundamental reform.
She got her start as a “community activist.” I think that says it all.
I fear that California will soon become insolvent because of the unwillingness of its “leaders” to give up their preconceived ideologies and face reality.
Memo to Ms. Bass: WE’RE BROKE, AND WE DON’T WANT ANY MORE STINKING TAXES!
Yet another liberal Democrat upset about the right to free speech. They’re about a dime a dozen now, I think. Perhaps they should just add a plank to their national platform, pledging to help abolish the First Amendment.
Hah! Good one Brew!
Bass is the real tyrant terrorist. Dem legislators have been ruining the state for decades but the minorities, youth vote, gays, unions , CTA all support them and so it goes. Pubs are just another group of small protestors and Arnold is just out of his league.
Any form of agitation or disagreement from taxpayers is termed “terrorism” by the dems. But when the state workers and education labor unions BANG their drums, blow their whistles and hold angry protest rallies - that’s not “terrorism.” That’s public protest, etc.
It is only when teaparty protesters, the taxpayers, arrange to meet and rally, that it’s “terrorism.”
These corrupt labor cartels are going to wring us dry out here in CA. They give campaign money to the Dems, and in turn the Dems increase tax rates — to give the unions more money, ...... which gives the Dem campaigns more funds. You can see the corrupt conflict of interest, here. Can anyone blame the private sector, esp. small business, for FLEEING this feeding frenzy of a corrupt cartel ridden State immediately? NO, you can’t.
Keep it up dems, and unions - drive the state right into insolvency (BK court) with your ludicrous, economic “demands.” Unsustainable, and frankly, corrupt and GREEDY. Labor unions, stop extorting taxpayers! Prison Guards unions - you are not “high skilled” workers, stop taxing businesses and HIGH skilled workers, such as accountants and physicians, to pay your Dem Tax (union political dues) - you are DESTROYING the tax base in this State’s economy!!!
4L,
San Fernando Valley, CA
John and Ken read this editorial yesterday. Chris Reed at the UT has also been really good on the issue.
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