Democrats believe two-thirds margin in California Legislature is within reach

Sacramento Bee ^ | 5/16/11 | David Siders

[SmithL]

Brown's Countdown, Day 127: Democrats believe two-thirds margin in California Legislature is within reach

-- State Democrats tired of dickering with Republicans for tax votes are increasingly hopeful that next year they will elect a majority large enough to make negotiating unnecessary.

Redrawn legislative districts, high voter turnout for the presidential election and continuing demographic shifts are likely to benefit Democrats, political observers of both parties say.

"If you think 2010 was bad," former Senate Republican leader Jim Brulte tells Republicans, "just get a load of what's going to happen in 2012."

Democrats have controlled the Legislature most years since the late 1950s. But in all that time, they have not once held two-thirds majorities simultaneously in both houses.

Voters last year lowered the threshold for budget passage to a simple majority, but tax measures like Gov. Jerry Brown is proposing still require a two-thirds vote under Proposition 13.

The Democratic governor plans to present a revised budget plan this morning. But as his negotiations with Republican lawmakers drag on – Brown needs two Republican votes in each house to put tax extensions on a ballot – frustrated Democrats are increasingly looking to 2012.

"It's absolutely clear the only permanent solution for California's problems is to elect a two-thirds majority of Democrats in each house of the Legislature," Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez, D-Los Angeles, told delegates at the recent California Democratic Party convention. "That work must begin today."

[2001convSVT]

What are the chances in California, of electing a candidate that runs on cutting ALL TAXES and cutting all state spending? Is it even possible to elected someone like that?

[XHogPilot]

This just in: the current heavily Democratic Senate and Assembly (CA) are proposing amending existing law to allow local school districts to assess taxes on residents. It gets around the 2/3 law and puts money into the union coffers. And the state congress critters can deny any cupability in raising taxes.