Posted on 02/18/2009 1:28:55 AM PST by blueplum
California senators began an around-the-clock lockdown Tuesday as a plan for easing massive money woes of the nation's most populous state remained stalled by a single vote.
Senators spent more than two hours debating a plan to close the state's $40 billion shortfall, then they temporarily postponed a vote to buy time for continued negotiations.
Stakes rose as the state began sending layoff notices to 20,000 state workers and braced for a shutdown of 374 construction projects valued at $5.58 billion if no budget is passed by today.
[snip]
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democratic Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg hope to strike a deal with one of two GOP senators, Dave Cox of Fair Oaks or Abel Maldonado of Santa Maria, to break the budget deadlock.
[snip]
Sen. Tony Strickland, R-Moorpark, said the state should make deeper cuts to its spending, not seek fiscal handouts.
"I think it's time we stop treating the taxpayers across the state of California as a personal ATM," Strickland said.
Sen. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello, noted that the plan includes numerous ways to stimulate the economy. He suggested the GOP was exaggerating potential harm to taxpayers.
"This kind of reminds me of the story of Chicken Little – the sky is falling," he said.
Cox countered with a children's story in which a camel's back was broken by an impossibly heavy load created over time by adding one strand of straw after another.
He likened the load to taxes.
"Our concern is the straws that are about to be added to the camel," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
I posted this on the other thread:
California budget negotiations hit a new snag (Senate Republicans oust their leader!)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2188150/posts
• Hollingsworth replaces Cogsdill as Republican Leader in Senate — announced on the Senate floor (they convened at 12:30AM. A few made comments praising Cogsdill, then they announced Hollingsworth. Cogsdill just made a short thank you speech (his staff, etc) and it’s quiet again.
They convened at 12:30 to vote on taxes. The statements about replacing the leader took a bit of time, but they went through the roll and took all the votes. All Pubbiess voting voted NAY, including the squishy Maldonado. 5 Senators were MIA, 3 Pubs and 2 Dems. Since then, one dem (Wolk) has come forward with an Aye.
That leaves the following four votes:
• Correa (D) who voted for it before but at one time said he would not approve taxes
• Ashburn (believed to be voting in favor)
• Cogdill (the leader, just ousted, who negotiated this deal on behalf of the caucus as a member of the “big 5”)
• Cox (previously believed to be the crossover vote but who stood strong against it in yesterdays vote — or the day before).
They seem to be waiting for these missing members to show up.
If three of those 4 vote for this thing, we’re screwed!
1:15AM Senate update:
Steinberg now says that the Senate is going into recess but to remain on call (”Please stay in the building”)
Are you kidding? The entire state is failing and you are calling the people asking for a little fiscal restraint "Chicken Littles"?
thanks calcowgirl!
I think I’ll keep any news on the other thread, so feel free to participate, lol.
I can’t sleep knowing that we may be minutes away from these jerks getting their tax increases.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2188150/posts
me either, and to think just a few years ago Calif ws the 5th largest economy in the world...and I'll check the other thread too, thanks again, FRiend!
The lawmakers need to agree not to raise taxes one dime and decapitate all the useless warm fuzzy programs to get over the initial hurdle, then cut taxes. There's so much waste in goobermint everywhere it's not even funny.
It would be hard to disagree with any of that!
I just don’t see what the problem is here. Since the Democrats want to pass a tax increase, we only need 10 million Democrats to send an extra 400 dollars a month each to the State and the 40 billion dollar deficit will be covered in only 10 months.
You're welcome. :-)
But what would Mexico do if those faithful expatriates (D) who send money home each month instead gave it to the state?
;-)
Ha! Simple! Mexico will get the shortage from Obama!
I have a suggestion for girly man though. If he has the guts, take all the past propositions which mandate a certain level of funding and put them up for a revote, with a simple majority needed for passing. Let's see now how many will pass again.
>>take all the past propositions which mandate a certain level of funding and put them up for a revote, with a simple majority needed for passing. Let’s see now how many will pass again.
I agree. Let’s start with the 1/2 billion for after-school-babysitting.
A good start!
Dare I mention Prop 98?
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