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State senator and former Assembly Republican leader Dave Cox died today, ending more than two decades of public service by a fiscal conservative and political tough guy who savored a good joke and loved to laugh - even at himself. His family said Cox died at home, surrounded by friends family, after a 13 year battle with prostate cancer. "A devoted family man, he always found time to serve his community and constituents," said the statement from the family. "Dave took great pride in public service and making government work for the people it serves." Cox, 71, served on the...

1:58 AM PST Reporting from Sacramento -- Aiming to end a three-month impassse, the California Senate prepared to vote early this morning on a deal Democrats and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger reached with a GOP holdout to resolve the state's fiscal emergency. Under the deal, Sen. Abel Maldonado of Santa Maria agreed to provide the final Republican vote needed to pass a spending plan with billions of dollars in tax hikes. In exchange, Democrats would rewrite election rules that Maldonado says are stacked against moderates like himself. (snip) Throughout the day, negotiators stayed focused on Maldonado and GOP Sen. Dave Cox...

"a single vote by state Sen. Dave Cox, R-Fair Oaks, could determine if the Legislature saves California from going over a financial cliff." ... we urge you to call Cox' senate office (916-651-4001) immediately. Urge him to seek a reasonable resolution of the budget crisis, and not shy away from making the tough, but necessary, choices.

California legislators trudged through a second day of trying to close a $40-billion hole in the state's budget this afternoon, still one vote Republican vote short of approving a package that contains $14.3 billion in tax increases. State Sen. Abel Maldonado, a moderate Republican from Santa Maria, indicated in an interview with The Bee that he was willing to consider casting the decisive vote if he was satisfied with the final version of the tax proposal. "I'm very concerned with the tax package, said Maldonado, who in the early morning hours had been quoted as saying he was adamantly opposed...

SACRAMENTO — One vote shy of a budget deal, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Sunday pressured reluctant Republicans in the Legislature to pass a complex plan to close the state's $42 billion deficit. The head of the Assembly locked down the chamber, forcing members to remain as the measure stalled in the Senate. Republicans are unwilling to raise taxes to deal with the state's historic deficit, but at least three GOP votes were needed in each house for the two-thirds majority required to pass the budget. Senate leaders thought they had enough votes lined up to ensure passage, which meant...

California's massive $40 billion-plus budget plan stalled in the Legislature early Sunday morning as Senate Republicans balked at a massive proposal containing $14.3 billion in new taxes. After legislative leaders negotiated a tentative deal last week, the Senate wound up one vote shy of passing the budget plan, surprising those who believed Senate Republican Leader Dave Cogdill had locked up enough votes in his caucus. Sen. Dave Cox, R-Fair Oaks, was widely believed to be the 27th Senate vote to pass the budget, but he stated early Sunday, "I'm not a prospect for voting for this budget." That sent Senate...

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Republicans rallied behind gubernatorial candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger on Monday as his leading Democratic rival's chances appeared to be rapidly fading along with hopes that incumbent California Gov. Gray Davis can avoid being recalled from office. The Austrian-born actor picked up an endorsement from state Assembly Republican leader Dave Cox and the California Republican party's executive board said it would make an unprecedented endorsement of a candidate in the governor's race later in the day -- with that person widely expected to be Schwarzenegger. The executive board has previously avoided endorsing a candidate because two prominent Republicans...