Posted on 08/13/2008 12:55:24 PM PDT by kellynla
Upon returning from my vacation, I was impressed upon by some Capitol insiders that there was a "problem" within the Senate Republican Caucus -- and that we may no longer have a unified team to oppose a tax increase. As you know too well from last year, it takes a two-thirds vote to pass a budget, as well as to pass a tax increase (or place one on the ballot). That means that only two GOPers need to "go south" before the entire defense against new taxes shifts over to the Assembly where six votes of Republicans (or perhaps seven due to the illness of one Democrat member) are needed, along with every Democrat, to pass a budget, raise taxes, or place a tax increase on the ballot.
I was told that State Senator Roy Ashburn was publicly saying there were circumstances under which he would be willing to support Governor Schwarzenegger's "temporary sales tax increase" proposal. Ashburn along with every Senate Republican has signed the Americans for Tax Reform Pledge, which is very straightforward: "I will oppose and vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes.")
The Governor's proposal would hike the sales tax by a full cent for three years (which will hurt the economy, not help it), and then promises to then decrease the sales tax after three years to a level below today's tax. Do you buy that? Can you, with confidence, say that in a few years, there won't be tremendous pressure to stop any "automatic decrease" because of the "need" to spend more money?
(Excerpt) Read more at flashreport.org ...
ya might want to “ping” the rest of the CA FReepers...
Shall we start a lottery to see which pubbie caves first?
My money is on Abel Maldonado.
Temporary Tax = Tax waiting to be raised
Yup.
Californians asked to suck it up.. again.
Talk about a vicious cycle, .. and no end in sight.
Nah, too difficult considering the number of spineless faux Republicans we have in Sacramento. As for that fool Ashburn, I've already sent him an email telling him what I think of any Republican who caves on taxes. I wonder if this stupid ass is termed out and therefore unconcerned about the next election--doesn't matter, we'll run him down, hound him, and generally make his life as miserable as possible.
According to the Sac Bee, they’re puttin’ the pressure on the following:
• Sen. Roy Ashburn
• Sen. Abel Maldonado
• Sen. Jim Battin
• Sen. Dick Ackerman
http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitolalertlatest/014577.html
In the Senate — where only two Republican voters are needed — much of the focus has been on Sen. Abel Maldonado, who broke party ranks to vote for the 2007-08 budget, and Sen. Roy Ashburn, who lost a key vice-chairmanship under the new GOP leadership.
If two Republicans crossed over, every Democrat would need to vote for the spending plan, including moderate Sen. Lou Correa, D-Santa Ana.
Schwarzenegger has personally schmoozed Ashburn, appearing on the Bakersfield Republican’s radio show last weekend.
“I hear this is the hottest show in the Valley,” Schwarzenegger teased Ashburn in a chummy 20-minute chat. “Maybe I can become more popular.”
The governor went on to call Ashburn one of the “warriors there by my side.”
But the conversation mainly focused on the budget — and Schwarzenegger’s proposal, which is centered on a three-year 1-cent hike in the sales tax, after which the tax would dip below current levels. That hike would be paired with a spending cap and some type of rainy-day fund.
Ashburn sounded amenable on the show to that plan.
“The way you’ve described, given further detail to your sales tax proposal, it actually sounds like a tax cut,” he said.
Well good. Now we know which ones can be bought and sold like the RINO political hacks they are. Ackerman happens to be my state senator. He's been good on a lot of stuff, but has a somewhat checkered record when it comes to holding ranks on certain big issues; worse, he may be termed out--not certain of that but I'm going to check it out.
Let’s give them all a chance before we lynch ‘em.
Maldonado and Ackerman have jumped ship in prior times. Don’t know about Battin.
I’d like to hear Ashburn’s take on this. The article implies his position is not as weak as Fleishman implies (and I’m always suspicious when the New-Majority-funded-FlashReport jumps to throw conservatives under the bus.)
Why?
From what I have seen so far, this little gaggle of hacks is well known to the Rats as potential weak-kneed, spineless RINOs, easy to buy. On the other hand, perhaps a slight display of patience is in order before we unleash our enraged voter contingent...
I do want to be reasonable about this...
Why?
Cuz I’m not sure I’m gettin’ the straight scoop from Fleishman and the SacBee.
Now, there is *nothing* wrong with sending strong messages and emails to our “representatives,” weak-kneed and otherwise.
And... if one does waver and join in with Arnold’s tax-raisin’ “post partisanship,” lynching may be entirely appropriate. ;-)
Sound reasonable? LOL
Maybe yes, maybe no.
Maldonado and Ackerman already have a "cave-in" history. Ashburn is presently in the crumble mode. The only one unknown to me is Battin. I'll hold off on the rope and lamp posts until I have more data on his record. Sooner or later, all of these clowns reveal their true stripes.
That's as reasonable as it ever gets with me.
Good advice. Jon Fleischman is a good guy and an old friend, but he has a way of flying off the handle over the slightest thing. Otherwise I can't comment on this for now.
What exactly did this conservative, prolife, Second Amendment- defender, Christian, life-long Republican actually DO as of this date to make you pull out the torches and pitchforks and want to "make his life miserable?"
Now lets see if he holds firm on taxes. If he does, I'll consider his comments re being "open to voting for Arnold's temporary tax" merely an unfortunate but meaningless remark.
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