Free Republic

Two days after Gov. Jerry Brown called off talks and suggested Republicans were obstructionist, Senate Republican leader Bob Dutton and his budget point man, Sen. Bob Huff, held a news conference today to explain their moves over the last week. Dutton said first lady Anne Gust Brown "yelled" at him in one meeting with the governor last Wednesday over a lack of cooperation. "Frankly, I was yelled at more than I was talked to," Dutton said, "and mostly by Mrs. Brown, not even Gov. Brown." Brown press secretary Gil Duran blasted Dutton later. "And the dog barked at him, too,"...

Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez said today that he is not considering trying to place a multibillion-dollar tax extension on the June ballot by a simple majority vote of the Democrat-controlled Legislature, which would sidestep Republicans. The Los Angeles Democrat downplayed a legislative counsel's opinion, sought by Senate Republican leader Bob Dutton, that said such a measure could be placed before voters by a majority vote of the Assembly and Senate, under narrow circumstances. "No," Pérez said flatly today when asked if he is entertaining such a plan in light of Republicans' failure to support the extension, which is designed...

The Legislature's lawyers have told Republicans that Democrats could put taxes on the ballot with a majority vote under narrow circumstances. The opinion, sought by Senate Republican Leader Bob Dutton, does not specifically address Gov. Jerry Brown's proposal to extend higher income, sales and vehicle taxes for five years at a June election to help solve a $26.6 billion deficit. The Democratic governor and majority Democratic lawmakers say the only sound way to place the taxes on the ballot is through a two-thirds supermajority, which requires at least two GOP votes in each house. Republicans saw the legislative counsel's opinion...

(snip) President Obama is in a desperate race to revive the American economy. The proposed budget is not coordinated with the federal stimulus package. In fact the budget is in direct conflict with much of the federal stimulus bill and will dampen and delay its effectiveness. Federal money intended to strengthen schools simply replaces money that this budget cuts from the very same schools. Federal money that is intended to provide health care for low income Californians replaces money that this budget removes. Federal money that will support public transportation replaces money that is cut from the California budget. And...

Republicans have been the only party in Sacramento offering real solutions to our budget crisis to get Californians working again. While Democrats play political games, Republicans continue to show that we are prepared to give Californians the responsible budget solutions they deserve. Senate and Assembly Republicans yesterday proposed an honest and realistic budget plan that will allow California to solve its current budget crisis and invest in the priorities of working families, while also addressing the structural budget problems looming on the horizon. The Republican budget plan includes $22 billion in budget solutions – which is more than either the...