Posted on 10/27/2008 9:27:11 PM PDT by SmithL
Sacramento -- Democrats will have a rare opportunity in next week's general election to capture a few seats in the state Legislature, which would help them inch toward a two-thirds majority, a vote threshold needed to approve a state budget or a tax measure.
State legislative seats switching hands between parties is extremely rare in California - it hasn't happened since the legislative district lines were redrawn in the beginning of the decade. Democrats are hoping to buck that trend with increased Democratic voter registration fueled by the popularity of presidential hopeful Barack Obama.
The party also has poured millions of dollars into a handful of races that it has targeted, and special interest groups such as labor unions also have spent millions in those contests.
But even if Democrats succeed in winning nearly half a dozen hotly contested seats in the Bay Area and Southern California, they still won't be able to reach the coveted two-thirds majority.
Democrats hold 25 of the 40 state Senate seats, two shy of the two-thirds majority, and Democrats are hoping to pick up a Republican seat in Ventura County.
In the Assembly, Democrats own 48 of the 80 seats, six shy of the two-thirds threshold. Democrats say they believe they have a good chance of winning at least three races in districts that have been represented by GOP lawmakers.
While Democrats still would need Republican support to pass a state budget or approve new taxes, it would be easier if there were fewer GOP votes needed to meet the two-thirds vote requirement, political experts say.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Friggin’ incredible. Sometimes I think we put too much faith in the American people. The state’s on the verge of a financial meltdown and they’re electing more of the perps?
Even with the turndown, there are trillions of dollars worth of “undertaxed” real estate to be ripped off in order to solve the California budget problem...
I am hoping that Prop 8 will bring a lot of conservatives to the voting booths and they will help preserve or even increase Repubs in the Assembly. Wishful thinking, I am sure. The system is ridiculously skewed right now and has been since the politicians got together after the last census and designed for themselves safe districts, thereby enshrining a permanent Repub minority. The other effect of creating safe districts for each party is it enabled radicals on both ends of the political spectrum to get elected in those districts and, of course, with few or no moderates in either party, they can’t find a middle ground for governing the state.
Where are all the conservatives in California going? Nationally, we’re still a center right nation, but apparently liberals are taking over california, pennsylvania, virginia, north carolina, and colorado.
Something does not compute here.
Liberals are not "taking over" California. They have taken it over. Our last stand out here was Prop. 187, to stem the tide of illegals to this state. It passed, we won the governorship, a majority in the state assembly, and many other offices.
Libs cried "racist", the GOP buckled and backtracked on support for 187, the courts tossed it, and the rest is history...
The other thing that has hurt in CA is social conservatism. The party did well when it focused on fiscal issues, crime and punishment, and keeping illegal aliens out.
This gives new meaning to the phrase “tipping point”. An earthquake won’t be necessary to put California completely under water.
I’ve lived in Fairfax County VA, one of the DC suburbs for 30+ years.
During that time, Fairfax has gone from about 500K population, with a majority Republican county government, to more than 1,000,000 population with 75% Democrat government.
It seems that nearly all the people who moved to Northern Virginia came from left-wing states and brought their choice of government with them.
Jack
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.