I thought that President Obama made clear that when we take prisoners, the United States must adhere to the guidelines in the Army Field Manual? Apparently when prisoners are taken for the cause of bigger government, officials sometimes have to resort to tougher measures.
On a more serious note, are the Governor and the California Legislature so desperate for tax increases that they have to hold legislators hostage to get them passed?
Despite a long night of frantic negotiations, legislative leaders are still struggling to find enough Republican votes to pass a bill that would close California’s $42 billion budget gap and end 102 days of partisan gridlock.
Only a single Republican, Senate Minority Leader Dave Cogdill, voted for the budget bill when it came up in the Senate Saturday evening, while state Sen. Roy Ashburn, R-Bakersfield, did not vote. Senate leaders left the bill open for possible vote changes, but it will only pass if Cogdill can somehow find two more GOP votes.
Thoughout the night, Cogdill, state Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger cajoled reluctant Republicans, trying to convince them to provide those final needed votes, but to no avail. But Steinberg and Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, D-Baldwin Vista (Los Angeles County), refused to give up and already have kept the Legislature in session more than 16 hours, with legislators ordered to stay in the Capitol building…
While both Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature recognized how desperate the state’s financial situation had become, Republicans have been unwilling to agree to tax increases, while Democrats have not wanted to support the cuts and economic stimulus package called for by Schwarzenegger…
The package the Legislature voted on Saturday was designed to solve the state’s deficit through June 2010. It contains $41 billion in budget adjustments: $14.4 billion in taxes, $15.1 billion in spending cuts and $11.4 billion in borrowing. But state officials are also hoping that the federal stimulus package will help them avoid some of the borrowing, increase cash reserves and even ease some cuts and taxes.
No one will be surprised to learn that the California budget has done nothing but increase annually for years. Faced with a bill that includes sales tax increases, income tax increases, gas tax increases, vehicle licensing fee increases, and other new and increased taxes, Republicans have balked. But in an effort to force them through, the California Assembly Speaker kept lawmakers locked in the Assembly chamber for upwards of 16 hours. Now she has relented and allowed them to roam the Capitol building — but not to go any farther.
I offer my thanks and congratulations to the Republican lawmakers holding the line against even bigger and more wasteful government. If you reside in California, you might want to call your Senator or Assembly(wo)man and tell them to hold the line against higher taxes.
And a message to Governor Schwarzenegger, who is ‘threatening’ to fire 10,000 state employees: the verb you are looking for is to promise. Democrats threaten to fire state employees.
Neil Stevens
Moe Lane
Steve Maley
Dan McLaughlin
Daniel Horowitz
Chuck DeVore has resigned as Republican whip...
CSUFBomb (Diary) Sunday, February 15th at 3:19PM EST (link)…in protest over the tax surrender brokered by a handful of Republican cowards who think it’s a good thing to punish every Californian for the incompetence of Democrat legislators in Sacramento who haven’t been able to spend less than they brought in for 10 years.
If the Democrats pass a sales tax increase (giving CA the highest sales tax in the U.S.), a gas tax increase of $0.12 to $0.14 per gallon, and a doubling of the auto registration fee, they will drive a stake in the heart of already feeble car sales – a huge source of tax revenue for the state.
Public Employee Unions killed California, with the Teachers Union leading the way. No organization that is funded by taxpayers money should be allow to bribe politicians. The state is broke. Employers are leaving and won’t be coming back – EVER.
The future of California is a 3rd world country and Barack’s plan for America is indistinguishable from the liberal dream that has become reality in California.
–
“We want great men who, when fortune frowns, will not be discouraged.” – Colonel Henry Knox
what's the fallout of this?
AthenaDelphi (Diary) Monday, February 16th at 2:48AM EST (link)I know that California needs 2/3 to increase taxes and that’s the sticking point: The democrats can’t get 1 republican senator to vote yes on their ‘budget’ (what a misnomer that is in this case).
My question is: DeVore hasn’t quit the legislature, he’s only quit being the republican whipping boy of the democrats right? So no change in the makeup of the state legislature’s numbers correct?
After years of mis-management, spending & tax increases, the straw is breaking the camels (californias) back
izoneguy (Diary) Sunday, February 15th at 3:28PM EST (link)Starting in the House and now in California – this is the revolt we have all been waiting for. Republicans, conservatives must stand up now and hold the line. This is OUR Battle of the budget. No more tax increases, no more paying off special interests, California won’t be the last. Let’s see what happens in Michigan & New York. Are the real conservatives going to finally stand up and say: “I am mad as hell and I am not going to take it anymore!!!” Even the liberal baston of California must be assaulted and the liberal political hoardes driven out. If California does not say NO now then it will not get another chance. Already in the bottom of the heap for job creation and business growth it cannot last much longer with massive budget deficiets and a growing entitlement community.
The point cannot be made often enough: Modern liberalism, as embodied in the Obama presidency, is the defender of the status quo. And the status quo is a road to economic ruin. Political forces cannot redistribute the wealth that the economic system does not produce.
We'll see izone...
mbecker908 (Diary) Sunday, February 15th at 3:38PM EST (link)I’m betting that the Republicans who are standing up against tax increases will be targeted by the NEA/Corrections Officers Union/State Employee Union coalition in ’10 and these tax increases will look like the good old days.
I think CA is well past the tipping point on the “entitlement community”. If you move, please don’t move to AZ.
Heck they're probably trying to figure out a way to arrest a couple of them now
bk (Diary) Sunday, February 15th at 3:50PM EST (link)If they can remove a few Rs by any means necessary, then the existing numbers will give them the 2/3 they need right?
I find it interesting that it never seems to dawn on anyone there that all the “free” services to illegal aliens costs the state billions per year, and closing the border might just solve the budget crisis.
And I wonder what a “budget adjustment” is. Usually a “spending cut” means “spending will increase, just not as fast” as opposed to what a normal working family would call a cut. I’m going to guess a “budget adjustment” means an “accounting trick” such as changing a payroll date so there is one less pay period in one year, but no reduction in actual spending.
“It contains $41 billion in budget adjustments: $14.4 billion in taxes, $15.1 billion in spending cuts and $11.4 billion in borrowing.”
Quorum
Thomas_Hauber Sunday, February 15th at 4:37PM EST (link)If they tried to “remove” a few Republicans the rest of the Rs would walk and the legislator would not have the necessary quorum needed to pass the budget.
Having lived in California my entire life, I have seen this slow motion train wreck approach for the past 20 years. Now I only hope that the Republicans hold together and force the much needed cuts California so desperately need.
I don't live in Kalifornia, my parents did
izoneguy (Diary) Sunday, February 15th at 4:22PM EST (link)and I visited many times and was very glad to return home to Texas.
My parents moved from San Jose in 1989 and went over the border to Nevada. My dad got transferred back to Texas in 2004 and is now retired, stocking up ammo and food in Central Texas.
The point cannot be made often enough: Modern liberalism, as embodied in the Obama presidency, is the defender of the status quo. And the status quo is a road to economic ruin. Political forces cannot redistribute the wealth that the economic system does not produce.
By the way izone...
mbecker908 (Diary) Sunday, February 15th at 5:40PM EST (link)I just reread what I wrote & “YOU” would be more than welcome in AZ. That was a comment aimed at the more generic version of Californian. Like the ones moving to Phoenix over the last few years who are working really hard on screwing up MY state.
How do they get away with this?
fmaidment (Diary) Sunday, February 15th at 5:42PM EST (link)I’m sorry, but isn’t that false arrest? A crime? Just because someone joins the general assembly of a state doesn’t mean they give up their rights!
If this bill passes, it’s clearly because the dissenters were under duress.
If the House Speaker wants their vote, then the bill needs to change. This kind of strong-armed tactic is reminiscent of tyrannical kings and dictatorships, not a free republic.
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“I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.”
– - Thomas Jefferson, to Archibald Stuart, 1791
So did they let them go home? nt
mom2oneson (Diary) Monday, February 16th at 2:11AM EST (link)nt
I heard a little bit ago...
speciallist (Diary) Monday, February 16th at 2:17AM EST (link)All the Repubs walked out…more later
way to go!
From the AP....Way to go Cali Repubs!!!...Calif. Senate adjourns without voting on tax hikes
speciallist (Diary) Monday, February 16th at 2:21AM EST (link)SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The California Senate abruptly adjourned its marathon weekend session Sunday night, leaving in doubt the fate of a $14.4 billion tax bill that is a key part of a plan to balance the state budget.
Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg angrily adjourned proceedings shortly before 9 p.m. after a Republican lawmaker complained that the hours of negotiations and debate that began Saturday night had been a charade.
Steinberg said that lawmakers would meet again Monday to try to salvage the combination of spending cuts, tax hikes and additional borrowing designed to erase a $42 billion deficit.
“We’re going to come back at 11 o’clock tomorrow morning and we’re going to stay and we’re going to work again and we are going to come back every day until we get this done,” he said. “This will get done, and it will get done with the framework that has been presented to you as a result of 90 days of work by your elected leaders.”
He criticized Sen. Sam Aanestad and other Republicans opposed to the tax increases.
I have three vehicles....
speciallist (Diary) Monday, February 16th at 2:31AM EST (link)at 300.00 each for reg……..they want to double it……stealing money
f that….
All the Republicans should just go home.
Tbone (Diary) Sunday, February 15th at 6:35PM EST (link)nt
Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.
Exactly.
itrytobenice (Diary) Monday, February 16th at 1:38AM EST (link)What are they going to do, arrest them?
Call their bluff and see what they are made of.
Proper grammar saves lives.
Let’s eat Grandma.
Let’s eat, Grandma.
No one will be surprised to learn that the California budget has done nothing but increase annually for year
gekster (Diary) Sunday, February 15th at 11:01PM EST (link)How much money is spent in California to take care of Mexican Nationals? And shouldn’t we charge Mexico for them?
I am just ciurouis as to how much money should be charged to Mexico for taking care of thier citizens.
If I was the rino Arnold, I would petition Mexico for the cost of health care, wellfare, and education for the MEXICANS LIVING IN THE US ILLEAGALY.
If they, the Mexicans don’t want to pay for thier people to be here, then THEY should be more than happy to TAKE them back at thier exspense.
Note: If Federal $ is sent to Califoria, why should a hard worker in (any state) pay for illeagles to live in California, when not to many Americans can afford the taxes to live there?
As far as the hostages, arn’t the legislature holding us?
They say Republicans are for the rich, Democrats are for the poor.
If they need more voters,
then they have to make more of who they are for.
We are there in the various Tea Party groups, leaderless, but not rudderless.
We steer always toward the Constitutional principles this nation was founded upon.
Erick Brockway
Ok folks, 2012 is here. Get involved
Two frames of mind...
AthenaDelphi (Diary) Monday, February 16th at 2:56AM EST (link)One the one hand, if California increases the taxes to cover democrat programs, then there will be less of these snots coming to my state of Arizona.
On the other hand, if California raises taxes we’ll see an exodus to Arizona of those that can’t pay the taxes and will then become a blight on Arizona social services.
Forget the wall with Mexico. I need a wall between Arizona and California!
If the Republicans are being held hostage in California...
AthenaDelphi (Diary) Monday, February 16th at 2:52AM EST (link)until they recant their beliefs, are they being given ACLU lawyers? 3 dietary appropriate meals per day? A clean bed? Clean clothes? Where is the UN in trying to get this outrage of injustice, settled in a peaceful manner?
Sacramento = Guantanamo?
Lammo (Diary) Monday, February 16th at 3:00AM EST (link)They’re clearly being held as enemy combatants only instead of Koran’s in the toilet (yes, I know it didn’t happen) it’s the Constitution. If I were in the business of selling anything and had any contracts with the State of Kalifornia I would immediately cancel them and send my business elsewhere.
Don’t be so open minded that your brains fall out. (John Corapi, The Black Sheep Dog)
George Skelton is a Pinhead...
speciallist (Diary) Monday, February 16th at 3:56AM EST (link)George Skelton is a Liberal……go figure
“To avoid raising taxes and still balance the books in Sacramento, you’d have to virtually shut down state government.”
Yes!…fire some Government desk jockeys..
“The math seems pretty simple. But apparently it’s too rigorous for many Republican politicians.”
Start of with some insults…nice..
“Some politicians are in denial. Some are demagoguing. Some are just ducking. Scared.
The scared are rather pathetic. Here are elected officeholders who represent 475,000 people in an average Assembly district — 950,000 in a Senate district — and they cower before conservative bloggers, radio talk entertainers and activists of a declining party.”
With a side of Rush bashing!…..I guess he can’t Bush bash anymore..
“…during the weekend as the Legislature — at least most of it — labored to win over three Republican votes in each house so it could attain the two-thirds majority needed to prevent state government from falling irretrievably into the dumpster.”
Bring the fear!
“The basics: The state has a projected $41-billion deficit through June 30, 2010. It’s almost out of cash. Bills are not getting paid. Tax refunds aren’t being mailed. Construction work is stopped. Bonds can’t be sold.”
And…more fear….read the rest…it’s pretty funny
Hey Cali Repubs?….Hang in there…BRING THE V shaped recovery!!