California Senator Lou Correa arrives to work with a sleeping bag at the State Capitol in Sacramento on Tuesday February 17.
Posted on 02/17/2009 7:36:41 PM PST by SmithL
California senators began an around-the-clock lockdown Tuesday as a plan for easing massive money woes of the nation's most populous state remained stalled by a single vote.
Senators spent more than two hours debating a plan to close the state's $40 billion shortfall, then the house postponed a vote until late Tuesday night to buy time for continued negotiations.
Passage of the plan requires a two-thirds majority in each house, meaning at least three GOP votes are required.
Sen. Abel Maldonado, a key prospect to put up the third GOP vote, said he is "still working with Darrell" Steinberg, the Democratic leader of the Senate.
The tentative budget deal would bridge an estimated $40 billion budget gap through a massive mix of program cuts, borrowing and new revenue, including vehicle license fee increases and higher gasoline, sales and personal income taxes.
Key elements require passage by a two-thirds majority of the Senate and Assembly – thus three GOP votes in each house.
The wide-ranging proposal also is designed to stimulate the economy by accelerating some public works projects and giving tax breaks to some businesses.
The spending plan would cover the period ending in July 2010.
Monday was marked by partisan arm-twisting of GOP Sens. Dave Cox and Abel Maldonado to support the deal, and by announcements of imminent fiscal harm statewide, including:
• Plans to send 20,000 layoff warnings to state workers today.
• Shutdown of 276 highway, road, prison, school, flood-control and other projects valued at nearly $4 billion.
• Suspension of 98 transportation projects, valued at $1.8 billion, that will cost an estimated $392 million just to halt temporarily.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
just how retarded are our lawmakers. pretty stupid. NO money, No spendie.
Gee, ya think supporting ten million illegal aliens had anything to do with this?
Nah. Couldn’t have.
Abel Maldenaldo will cave. They’ll give him some goodies, and he’ll cave. Let’s go socialist! Tax me more! Hooray!
its a scary thought that our states future depends on Abel Maldenaldos vote
Yep.
They’ll give him some goodies, and he’ll cave.
He'll cave -- but he'll do it without the goodies.
All he has asked for is stupid reductions (that will make for good campaign fodder in his pursuit of Controller, but do nothing to solve the budget problems) and an open primary that he has no chance of getting. But now he keeps the camera on himself and can tout himself as a moderate man of the people. pfffffffft!
I heard on John and Ken KFI, that he no longer wants people calling him that are not in his district... but his changing the vote will put all these taxes on all of california..keep calling 916-651-4015, no state or country has ever taxed itself into prosperity..
If he runs for Controller, will he also not want those outside his district to vote for him?
Think about it, Abel.
Hang tough California Republicans
Two whole hours? Wow! Just like BJ Clinton used to say about himself, they're probably working harder than they've ever worked in their whole lives.
And not a peep about curbing spending by dealing with the illegals.
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