[John Jorsett]

A tax increase in Kali is guaranteed.

I don't think so, at least not yet. Raising taxes in an election year is always problematical, and adding a 2/3 vote requirement sets the bar pretty high. If the Republicans just sit on their hands on this one (something California Republicans seem pretty adept at, judging by their pathetic performance), then no increase happens. And if by some chance they do manage to get a bill through to Davis, if it threatens his survival he'll throw his party over the side and veto it.

[cartoonistx]

I sure hope the Simon camp is practicing some "strategery" over this issue. Now is the time to be putting on the ads that say "Davis WILL raise your Taxes!" The budget problem is already thought of as Gray's fault and if we can get the voters to believe that his 'secret solution' to the short-fall is a big tax increase he will be toast by October.

[churchillbuff]

Unfortunately, there are 4 Repubs in the Calif Assembly and 1 Senator who showed last summer they're ok with tax increases - they supplied the necessary votes for a Davis budget that raised taxes, Anthony Pescetti is one of the tax-hiking GOP Assembly members - and he's there until next Jan. Sen Dickerson is still there too. So don't assume the GOP won't help make it a 2/3 vote for more tax hikes,