Posted on 03/23/2011 7:56:48 AM PDT by SmithL
Gov. Jerry Brown is considering bypassing Republicans in the Legislature by putting a measure on the November ballot that would increase taxes to close the state's budget deficit, sources involved in the talks said Tuesday.
Brown floated the idea of issuing IOUs starting in July, when the next fiscal year begins, until the November election. The IOU plan would cover expenses until the election could be held, according to insiders.
The governor has expressed frustration in recent days over negotiations with Republicans on closing California's $26.6 billion deficit and even told a dinner gathering of labor leaders Monday night that Californians would vote on his plan "one way or another."
Gil Duran, Brown's spokesman, said Tuesday that it was "a lie" that the governor had decided on a November election.
"The governor is still focused on his original plan," Duran said. "He's talking to people on both sides of the aisle."
Brown has expressed decreasing confidence that he can persuade two Republicans in each house of the Legislature to join Democrats to call a special election in June to put tax extensions and increases before voters. Those taxes would generate $14 billion this year and would last five years.
The governor filmed an Internet video released late Sunday where he asked if viewers felt it was "appropriate to shut out the people of California" from deciding whether to approve the taxes or face deeper budget cuts.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Birds gotta fly, andRATS gotta tax!
Yes, Jerry, you go ahead and do that. Put it to a vote of the people. Let’s see if the state will hang itself (again).
Having an overwhelming majority in the legislature this last resort was always available to him, but one he desperately wanted to avoid.
Good for the GOP for hanging tough.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Kalifornia has passed the tipping point. Californians WILL vote for the tax extensions and increases if they get the chance.
Then, as more taxpayers and business flee, they won’t bring in near the projected the revenue.
So it is the Republicans fault because they won’t give Brown any political cover for tax hikes?
Since it will take a 2/3 majority approval to pass the extension of previous 'temporary' tax increases has very little chance of passing.
The GOP would be smarter to actively campaign AGAINST the extension, but should allow the vote to go before the people.
I guess the idea of a representative government is just too tough for old Jer. Maybe he can have everyone vote to see when he can go to the bathroom.
It takes 2/3 of the legislature to put it on the ballot but the vote itself will only require 50% + 1 to pass.
Direct Democracy in Action...
And no one saw it coming. No one except for every conservative in America.
The fix is already in.
If the put to a vote, the unions (and their millions) along with the media, will guarantee it will pass.
And if by some miracle, it does not pass, they will take it to court and a friendly judge will rule that it should have passed and let it become law.
Democrats only have one tool in their toolbox, taxes.
I wouldn’t say that...they were stupid enough to put he, pelosi & boxer back in there.
I believe that a November ballot measure would be for a new tax, instead of an extension.
That’s why he had been working so hard to get the extension on the ballot in June, before the existing taxes expired.
In Jan of 2010 Oregon passed a tax hike on those making over 125 K via referendum.
Of course the people that passed it weren’t all effected by it. It likely failed among those that were.
People probably won’t vote to raise their own taxes but on the “rich” they might.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.