CA Legislature Fails to Agree on Governor Schwarzenegger's Fiscal Proposals (more detail on votes)

LA Times ^ | Dec. 6, 2003 | Nancy Vogel, Gregg Jones and Evan Halper

[FairOpinion]

Shortly before 8 p.m., the governor's proposal to borrow $15 billion was defeated in a Senate floor vote. The plan got only five votes, all from Democrats; all but one of the 15 Republicans abstained because of a lack of support for the governor's spending cap. There were 14 votes against the governor's proposal: those of 13 Democrats and Sen. Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks).

The Democratic counterproposal also failed, receiving 23 Democratic votes — four short of the 27 required for two-thirds approval. McClintock voted against it, and the other Republicans abstained. Later, Senate Republicans changed their votes to send the governor's spending limit to a 34-0 defeat, accompanied by a vow that they would put an even tougher cap on the November ballot.

As the potential for a Schwarzenegger setback loomed, Brulte reacted with irritation to questions about whether the governor should be at the rally in Tracy. "The governor should be doing exactly what he is doing," he said. "Let me tell you what is wrong with places like this.

"What is wrong is having the Democratic speaker of the Assembly tell the governor of California there is no need for us to get together the next couple of days — let me meet with colleagues," he said. "And then go on TV Wednesday and criticize the governor for not getting together with him. That is what is wrong with this place: saying one thing privately and doing something else publicly."

[goldstategop]

If California goes bankrupt, the Democrats and Republicans may wish they'd voted for the lesser of two evils when they had the chance. Color me one delighted conservative!

[FairOpinion]

"Maybe the Republicans are simply sitting on the sidelines and letting the Democrats and the Governator battle it out?"

===

Great -- the Republicans are not willing to stand up and fight WITH our Republican governor, AGAINST the Dems, to solve the CA budget CRISIS, they are sitting on their hands or voting WITH the Dems, as McClintock did. I guess he wanted to send the message, that he is WITH the Dems against all other Republicans.

[Old Jarhead 46]

Me too!

[FairOpinion]

"Is it too much to ask that we just move in the right direction (toward smaller government)?"

==

Please tell me how we would move towards smaller government if one of the Dems defeats Bush in 2004?

[NormsRevenge]

LOL.. Keep jabbing, ya might hit something eventually.

It would appear we all have axes to grind these days.

Republicans and conservatives; democRats and liberals, are not necessarily the same thing.

Tom has never changed his stance, obviously a lot of Republicans have.

[TheAngryClam]

The bond measure was bad policy, and McClintock had vowed to vote against it for that reason since Arnold proposed it.

[TheAngryClam]

So are you one of the people who were mad at the Republicans who voted against Pete Wilson's massive tax hikes in 1991, because he was a Republican governor?

[Reagan Man]

Fair Opinion is a centrist RINO, who doesn't understand politics or policy. He believes borrowing $15 billion is the answer to California's economic woes and and creating a new $400 billion federal entitlement program is proper policy for a GOP Congress and President. Such acts may bring short term politcal gains, but in the long term its fiscally irresponsible policy.

[spokeshave]

"I'm not familiar with California legislature procedures. Is there some sort of strategery by abstaining versus voting for, or against? Maybe the Republicans are simply sitting on the sidelines and letting the Democrats and the Governator battle it out?"

I think the Republicans voted against the bill because they wanted a STRONGER one with more spending caps....go figure...

[FairOpinion]

Sure, anyone who doesn't think the Republicans should be allowing themselves to be steamrolled by Democrats is RINO.

The only great conservatives are the ones who work against Republicans and vote exactly with the Democrats.

That is according to your definition.

So who is the RINO around here?

[Kevin Curry]

I don't know...If I were McClintock, I might wonder how I wound up siding with Democrats.

McClintock voted against the Democratic counterproposal.

In sum, McClintock voted against approving more debt to fuel a bloated government. Twice.

Good on him.

[Reagan Man]

>>>So who is the RINO around here?

The title of centrist RINO, belongs to the likes of you and your fellow centrist RINO's that dwell here on conservative FreeRepublic. You are not a conservative, by any stretch of the imagination. I told you a long time ago, winning at any price is not the sign of a true conservative. You may have to compromise at times, but principled pragmatism is a long way from your idea of selling out. Now that Schwarznegger has won, he has to govern and as events are showing, it won't be easy. I still wish Arnold the best. As for you, I can only laugh at your silly spinning. I have no idea how this will turn out, but it'll be fun to watch.

[CdMGuy]

I agree, the Dems blew it big time. Arnold will get the signatures to place a spending cap propositon on the November ballot. It will pass quite easily.

He wanted the $15 mil bond issue to get through the squeeze for this year and next due to the mess that the Dem legislature and former governor got us into. It was not because he wanted to spend lots of money.

Now, without the bond measure, he will be cutting spending left and right for the rest of this fiscal year ending 6/30 any where he is legally able. Plus, he has a line item veto. So, when the Dems send him a budget next June or July, then he can slash the hell out of it.

No matter how you cut it, Arnold did the right thing. He comes out looking like a hero and the Dem legislature like a bunch of jerks. In the end, this may be better than passing the bond issue as it may force even greater cuts in state spending.

The Dems still have a couple of days next week to change their mind. I would not be surprised if they do. As for McClintock, he will hang himself with his totally dogmatic position. There was a man who had an opportunity to be a hero and advance himself. I was a supporter for years. Now, I just shake my head at his stupidity.

[Reagan Man]

PresReagan veto'd 23 bills in his first three years in office and as you correctly stated, PresBush has veto'd zero bills.

[FirstPrinciple]

So who is the RINO around here?

You. And I am being generous.

[FairOpinion]

"My end goal is smaller government, while it seems all you really care about is electing more Republicans."

===

What apparently you don't seem to get, is that if we do not elect more Republicans, that means we elect more Democrats who are against everything you claim you stand for. So why do you want to elect more Democrats?

[FairOpinion]

Sure 90% of the Republicans are all RINO-s, by your definition, and only the 10% who always UNDERMINE the other 905 and end up siding with the Democrats are the "true Republicans" -- as per your definition.