State GOP to consider censuring any lawmaker backing taxes

SacBee: Capitol Alert ^ | 2/2/9 | Shane Goldmacher

[SmithL]

In an effort to ramp up pressure on Republican lawmakers who might agree to a compromise budget deal, a top GOP official has submitted a resolution for the party's convention later this month to formally censure any Republican who votes for new or higher taxes.

"If the Republican party loses the ability to say that we're the party against higher taxes than we've been dealt a grievous blow," said Jon Fleischman, the author of the resolution and a Southern California vice chairman in the California Republican Party.

Fleischman, who publishes the conservative FlashReport Web site, said the resolution is meant as a "stick" to dissuade GOP legislators from agreeing to any budget plan with higher taxes crafted with majority Democrats and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

"I think it is fair to say that if you are a Republican and, between now and the February convention, you vote for tax increases, you are likely to be censured by your party and cast out among the unwanted," he said.

The resolution goes one step further than a censure. It calls for changes in party bylaws to allow the Republican Party "to campaign and contribute funds against these pro-tax Republican legislators in primaries, and in general elections."

The state GOP faithful are set to gather for their semi-annual convention in Sacramento on Feb. 20.

"I think there's enough anger out there that something like this could pass," said Patrick Dorinson, former communications director for California Republican Party.

Legislative leaders and Schwarzenegger have been negotiating behind closed doors -- in what's termed Big Five meetings -- to address the state's roughly $40 billion budget hole through July 2010.

There has been growing pressure from both ends of the political spectrum (organized labor and conservative activists) not to compromise core principles.

[SmithL]

Assembly Speaker Karen Bass and Assembly GOP leader Mike Villines negotiating in the speaker's office in August 2008

[MeanWestTexan]

Wow, that’s wonderful.

[unixfox]

Sorry fellas, you had your day in the sun and now you want sunscreen?

I've abandonded these idiots. Done, over, kaput.

[publius321]

I love it! It’s time to give the Republican Party a much neeed enema. We are going to have a Republican Revolution that will make 1994 pale in comparison.

Go to http://www.GOPenema.com ; sign the petition at the end of the column and send it to your RINO.

[Cindy]