Posted on 07/06/2011 8:44:22 AM PDT by SmithL
Just before Gov. Jerry Brown signed the state budget with little fanfare last week, Assembly Republicans celebrated at Downtown Ford, standing before cars they said would become cheaper overnight because they blocked tax extensions.
"This is a great day for California," said Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, R-Twin Peaks. "The death of these taxes is the rebirth of our economy."
If Republicans judge themselves by taxes alone, they scored a victory this year.
But Capitol experts say they also lost for the foreseeable future their best opportunity to reduce pensions, impose a stronger spending cap, or roll back regulations that affect businesses.
"It's up to them going forward if they want to put all of their resources into one issue or spread them between more," said Dan Schnur, a former GOP strategist and director of the Jesse Unruh Institute of Politics at the University of Southern California. "Right now, they are a one- issue party in the Legislature."
Under new budget-writing rules, Brown and Democratic lawmakers built a majority-vote spending plan – one that lacked the governance changes sought by Republicans.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
They couldn’t have achieved any meaningful change if they tried; the numbers just aren’t there. Besides, it’s better if we don’t make life more tolerable and prop up the Democrat regime anymore - the only way back to sanity is through pain now. When it gets too bad, maybe people will wake up.
Ready to form a TTMA Party here in Cali. Taxed Too Much Already!
Like the LA Times, this leftist paper (Sac Bee) somehow accords “fault” to the GOP for “failing” to get pension and other big-labor-overpayment reforms.
Huh?
I guess the “logic” is that, IF the 35% of the Legislature that’s GOP had agreed to an extension of the temporary (HA!) tax hikes, THEN the 65%-majority Dems would have ... what, exactly?
See, most of the union labor contracts are long-term deals. Sure, a few come up for renewal each year, but most are 4- to 7-year deals or even longer. Legally, NO legislation can simply reduce or otherwise violate those contracts. The only remedies for CURRENT employees would be to ask for “Give backs.” Good luck with that one.
And the GOP routinely has bills (gathering dust, thanks to the Dems) to reduce pay and pension generosity to NEW HIRES. Nothing is stopping responsible Dems from passing those for help in the very distant future.
But the big issue in the short and medium term is pay, pension and health premiums (including those to be paid in retirement) for CURRENT employees.
Only to leftists at the LAT and SacBee could this be the GOP’s fault.
Figures. A Republican who heads a department named for a Democrat.
They are about to file Bankruptcy for real.
Real Taxpayers are packing as we speak as well as businesses.
God only knows what California will look like in 10 years.
Here’s my informed guess about what really went on in the negotiations.
The GOP was actually WILLING to extend the temporary taxes through November 2011 (contrary to what this article says), on the condition that the Democrats pass, and Brown sign, an actual LAW savagely cutting state employee pay, capping all state spending, and setting a hard cap (adjusted only by inflation and population).
Notice that I said “LAW.” Because all the Dems offered, instead, was to PUT ON THE BALLOT various reform measures. Not to pass the actual law, see? but just to put it on the ballot.
The last time this was tried was in 2005. The Germinator had several of his reforms on the ballot then in a special election.
And what happened? The Left threw tens of millions of dollars of mud at those initiatives, and defeated them. (Then Arnold REALLY went SUPER left-wing after that. “Can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em, I guess he figured?)
My point is, the GOP wanted something better (in return for agreeing to extend taxes) than a mere CHANCE to get reforms — a chance that the left has shown it can defeat with millions of dollars in lies. Instead, the GOP wanted the actual LAWS passed. It is the DEMOCRATS who refused.
Or at least, that is my informed guess.
TJ.
“But Capitol experts say they also lost for the foreseeable future their best opportunity to reduce pensions, impose a stronger spending cap, or roll back regulations that affect businesses.”
I’m guessing the Republicans lost that oppty when a Democrat was elected Governor.
This kind of argument, that the GOP missed a ‘great deal’, is just simply inane. Go ahead, Democrats, do all that stuff on your own and claim all the credit. What, you wont do it? Hmmmm.
Good point, SL.
According to the article, the Repubs “bargained away” reasonable, Rat concessions. Like THOSE EVEN EXIST.
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.