Sacramento's Game of Chicken

Left Angeles Times ^ | July 1, 2003 | Russell Korobkin

[Weimdog]

With a majority in both houses and a Democratic governor, the Democrats, unlike the Republicans, can pass a budget without a single vote from the other party — as long as it does not raise taxes, which requires a two-thirds supermajority.

The Democrats say they will not cut spending further, but they will soon be faced with a choice of enacting a budget with less spending than they would like or shutting down the government and spending nothing. Because reducing education and health care — which state Controller Steve Westly said last week were among the services that stood to lose about $1.5 billion unless the deadlock was resolved — is better than cutting them off altogether, the Democrats will swerve. That is, unless they are willing to sacrifice the well-being of Californians rather than lose face.

[Weimdog]

This is the key sentece right here -

"With a majority in both houses and a Democratic governor, the Democrats, unlike the Republicans, can pass a budget without a single vote from the other party — as long as it does not raise taxes, which requires a two-thirds supermajority."

The Dems can pass a budget as long as there is no new taxes, but they won't.

[thoughtomator]

My bet is that the Democrats are fully willing to sacrifice the citizens of California on the altar of power.

[Dems_R_Losers]

That's a great piece. The lamestream media continue to portray this as a battle between Gray Davis and the Republicans in the legislature, but most people outside California have no idea just how few Republicans there are in the legislature. The ONLY power Republicans have is to prevent a tax increase. Why would they NOT use this power to its maximum effect? You can be damn sure that if the tables were tunred, Democrats would be doing the same thing.

[Tacis]

I can tell you from personal contacts that the ultra-left wingers in Kalifornistan KNOW that it is the Republicans that are blocking everything. And, if you mention the rcall, the party talking points strat with an immediate claim of the criminality of the two guys leading the campaign. Just like when Willie was in office; any criticism was met with the day's propaganda.

Note also, that the refusal of the California Republicans to further enslave the taxpayers to the demands and greed of the labor unions is being presented negatively while the obstructionism of the weasels in the US Senate and the Texas legislature are presented by the liberal-extremist media as a good thing.

[Drango]

The way to win at chicken is to unscrew your steering wheel and throw it out the car window, in full view of the other driver.

LOL, so true...

[Farnham]

This is the first piece I've read on this (and I've read a bunch of them) that didn't infer that a supermajority was neccessary for all budget legislation in California. I had no idea that it only applied to tax increases. Wonder how many California voters are as ignorant as me.

(Never mind, strike that, the legislature is heavily Dem. They are even more ignorant.)

At least my excuse is that I live on the other side of the country.

[Republic Rocker]

It's a miracle..LA SLIMES gives the Repub's the benefit of the doubt in the last sentence.......

[WOSG]

Obvious and brilliant GOP strategy makes sure not a single GOP legislator supports any budget that raises taxes.
Say openly and publicly that they will support *ANY* budget that does not do so and that the Dems are obstructing rational solutions. (why that is smart PR: since Dems can pass such a budget on their own anyway, they could pass such a budget anytime. it's their lust for taxpayers' wallet that makes them want to tax-n-spend instead of cutting.)

Let the Dems stew in the mess of their own making.


"The Dems can pass a budget as long as there is no new taxes, but they won't. "

Needs to be the GOP mantra ... that alone could bring the GOP in CA back from the brink.

[Uncle Hal]

Great point. I too thought you had to have a 2/3 majority to pass a budget. But you have to have a 2/3 majority to raise taxes. Thank god for this law. We must not let this 2/3 requirement for any new taxes to be changed as the Dems will try I am sure.

[The_Pickle]

The Democrats say they will not cut spending further, but they will soon be faced with a choice of enacting a budget with less spending than they would like or shutting down the government and spending nothing.

And They Will Shut Down The Governemnt. The Democratic philosophy is, was, and always will be "My Way or No Way At All". Of Course it will be the Republicans fault according to the Democrats.

"If those nasty republicans would have just let us raise your taxes everything would be fine"

[whereasandsoforth]

No wonder every other person I've met lately say they've moved here from California.