Republican [State] Senator [Johannessen] crosses party lines so Senate can pass budget [Calif]

The Sacramento Bee ^ | June 29, 2002 | JESSICA BRICE

[heleny]

SACRAMENTO (AP) - The State Senate passed a California budget Saturday after a lone Republican Sen. crossed over party lines and voted for the state spending plan.

It marks the end of weeks of partisan bickering in the Senate over tax hikes and spending cuts needed to fill a $23.6 billion budget hole.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Wonder what kind of a deal they made him?

[goldstategop]

California State Senator Maurice Johannessen's vote marks him as a turn-coat. He voted for the Rat tax laden, pork heavy budget. How much did the Democrats buy this so called conservative's vote for? Undoubtedly tucked away in the state budget is pork for his district which I'm sure is a sweetheart deal in exchange for betraying his party and conservatism. No matter; his future political career in terms of seeking higher office is over and this budget is still DOA in the Assembly.

[Myrddin]

The Democrats are always whining about balancing the budget on the backs of the poor. The cigarette tax hike of 63 cents per pack is really going to hit the poor. The decision to screw small business on their taxes is probably going to put a few more out of business or on the road to a state with more reasonable tax policies. More unemployment to follow from the business segment with the largest number of employees.

[tubebender]

I think this guy did this to us once already recently. Calif small business's are being screwed big time this year by the socialist in Sac. Workmens comp, diasability insurance, extended unemployment benifits now auto registration cost, addional tax burden plus higher overhead in every facet of business.

[heleny]

"I consider myself a conservative Republican, but ...

"I consider myself a conservative Republican, but I have no backbone and I really don't care about taxing my constituents."

Here are the tax increases the article listed as part of the $3.6 billion tax hike:

• boost vehicle license fees [by how much? 100% increase?]
  
• 63-cent-per-pack hike on cigarettes
  
• two-year suspension of a law that allows businesses to deduct their net operating losses against future income
  

They [the Assembly] need at least four Republicans to vote for the budget to get the two-thirds majority needed, but Republicans maintain they will not buy into a plan that raises taxes.
I hope the Republicans don't give into the tax increases!

[I_Love_My_Husband]

I'm looking on the bright side. Schools will be cut by $400 million. They WASTE tons of money....

[goldstategop]

If this is how Republicans vote we might as well give the Rats a two thirds majority in the State Legislature. If we're going to have two statist parties, heck let's just have one. I mean with friends like Johannessen, its not like conservatives need enemies.

[heleny]

If this is how Republicans vote we might as well give the Rats a two thirds majority in the State Legislature.

No, no, no! If we had one more Republican, then just one turncoat would be insufficient. It would take more work to get enough legislators to agree to so many tax increases. (Or, at least I would hope so.)

[OC_Steve]

I heard on the radio the other day that since Davis has taken office they have added 43000 state jobs. The budget only cuts 4000. In addition, since 1993 our state budget has doubled. It was something like $33 billion and now it is $78 billion. What do we get for this, lousy infrastructure, a huge budget deficit and a terrible status with the rest of the country.

I think I will go to LA and visit my tax dollars as I am not seeing it here in Anaheim!!!

[I_Love_My_Husband]

Don't worry. I'm *sure* things will be changing SOON...since the future governor will be Simon!

[heleny]

Schools will be cut by $400 million.

Yeah, but a $13.05 billion school bond has qualified for this November's ballot.

A list of propositions for this November appears in:
California: Senate passes open-records constitutional amendment. Fate in the Assembly uncertain
Sacramento Bee | June 29, 2002 | Ed Fletcher
Posted on 6/29/02 10:13 AM Pacific by John Jorsett

[goldstategop]

I would agree with you if the party leadership hadn't signed off on a gerrymandering deal that locked our minority status in place for another decade. Its going to be easier said than done to elect an additional conservative Republican as opposed to a RINO to the State Senate. When all is said and done there's just no way we can take over the State Legislature for a few years. The burden is now on Republicans in the State Assembly to stand fast and not show conservatives the only thing that separates them from the Rats on the issue of statism is how much pork their districts will get in the bargain.

[Paulus Invictus]

Count on the Mafia to figure out that contraband cigs from nearby states with lower taxes will help the poor by bringing in and selling them at great profit. Joe Kennedy, where are you when you are needed?

[heleny]

From his website: My objective as your Senator is to lower taxes, reduce bureaucracy, protect north state water, and strengthen families.

I think he's termed out, so he may carelessly disappoint his consituents.

[OC_Steve]

You got that right!!! This is a temporary thing!!!

[heleny]

there's just no way we can take over the State Legislature for a few years

I just hope that people will vote more conservatively after they see their own vehicle licence fees double (or whatever the increase is). The VLF increases probably won't affect this election.

[heleny]

Workmens comp, diasability insurance, extended unemployment benifits now auto registration cost, addional tax burden plus higher overhead in every facet of business.

In other words, inflation.

[heleny]

The cigarette tax hike of 63 cents per pack is really going to hit the poor.

This proposal to increase revenue will probably backfire, since a black market for out-of-state cigarettes (or mail order deliveries) will circumvent the tax collection. We might get even less than we collect now, if enough smokers stop buying locally.

[heleny]

Wonder what kind of a deal they made him?

Who knows? It must have been pretty sweet. I hope our Republican Assemblymen won't surrender to the tax and debt increases.