Posted on 03/07/2006 7:05:06 PM PST by Amerigomag
** The Republican governor is running out of runway in his bid to put some semblance of his Big Bang Bonds on the June primary ballot. Democratic legislative leaders have come up with a unified position, which they presented to the former action superstar yesterday in a negotiating session. Their version, which is secret, is smaller than what he had in mind and more focused on education and public transit than the version he has been flogging in his statewide road show. But that’s probably fine with him. He wants to get something that he can sell as a win for California and himself, in some order.
Schwarzenegger in turn presented Republican concerns, which are said to be much more focused on process and ideology than specific public works projects. These concerns, on the order of undermining union prevailing wage and environmental protection legislation, may pick up Republican votes but could well peel off Democratic votes, leading to a process of subtraction by addition.
The ultimate showman who says he can sell anything has a selling job to do on his Republican legislative colleagues. A selling job that is made no easier by the upheaval in Republican ranks caused by the retirement of longtime Congressional powerhouse Bill Thomas. Assembly Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is already off and running for Thomas’s Bakersfield congressional seat. The Republican caucus is said to have settled on San Diego area Assemblyman George Plescia, unknown to most statewide observers, as his replacement. But rural Northern California Assemblyman Rick Keene, a Republican financial point man more conservative than the conservative McCarthy, is picking up on the negotiating chores for Assembly Republicans, complicating the action governor’s life.
(Excerpt) Read more at newwestnotes.com ...
Negotiating session? Think casting couch.
Bet the package comes in at just under 50 B ,, they'll split the difference, both can then claim victory that they are doing something together for the state and oddly enough, also the one thing they both excel at as well.. borrow and spend
Can we expext a joint press conference? As I've said on many occasions: Be very, very grateful that the Austrian doesn't change his party registration.
Only term limits would stop the Austrian Democrat and before he was turned out, the state would be in federal receivership and the California Supreme Court would be debating the legality of joint, legislative sessions with Baja California.
Wasn't there a little something in there about not using general obligation bonds?
Rick Keene, a Republican financial point man more conservative than the conservative McCarthy
the "Conservative" McCarthy? Who is that?
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