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”)
thanks calcowgirl!
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.