Brown's Countdown, Day 166: Governor mends fences with fellow Democrats -- again

Sacramento Bee ^ | 6/23/11 | David Siders

[SmithL]

By the spring of 1981, Gov. Jerry Brown's relationship with Democratic lawmakers had become so sour that the Senate leader ordered sergeants-at-arms to remove him from the chamber.

Brown left before an escort was required.

Thirty years later, Brown is back at the Capitol, and hostilities with members of his own party are flaring again.

Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez said last week they were "dismayed" by Brown's historic budget veto.

On Thursday, Steinberg was still in a combative mood.

"Is Plan A dead?" Steinberg said when asked about Brown's budget plan. "I'll leave it to the governor to announce the wake and the funeral services."

Steinberg last week ordered the Senate to block confirmation of Brown's appointees. Though milder than one alternative – rejecting them outright – the move was a reminder to give fellow Democrats "some respect," former Senate President Pro Tem John Burton said.

Steinberg also is forcing Brown's hand on a farm labor bill – one supported by Brown's union allies but opposed by business interests that back his budget plan.

The measure, which Steinberg previously had avoided sending to the governor's desk, was the subject of demonstrations every day this week outside the Capitol.

The legislation would make it easier for farmworkers to unionize and is politically difficult for Brown. He signed the historic farm labor relations law when he was governor before and had a personal relationship with Cesar Chavez, the late labor leader.

"It's no fun to veto a budget of your own party," Brown said in a speech to builders in San Francisco on Thursday.

[SmithL]

As long as Governor Moonbeam and the Democrats refuse to discuss pension reform, spending caps, and regulation reduction, they'll have to figure out how to pass a balanced budget on their own. Which is why they passes Prop 25 in the first place.

[tflabo]

A Live snapshot from the Lunatic Asylum in Sacto.

[blueunicorn6]

That, is a good one. Lots of good ones today.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks SmithL.

Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez said last week they were "dismayed" by Brown's historic budget veto... "Is Plan A dead?" Steinberg said when asked about Brown's budget plan. "I'll leave it to the governor to announce the wake and the funeral services." Steinberg last week ordered the Senate to block confirmation of Brown's appointees. Though milder than one alternative -- rejecting them outright -- the move was a reminder to give fellow Democrats "some respect," former Senate President Pro Tem John Burton said.

If Brown lets this slide, which he's almost bound to do, because he's a party-line hack and incompetent, I don't think there will be much more time before there's a move to clean house via A) recalls drives B) propositions for amendation of Cali's "constitution", or C) outright violence (dressed up by the partisan media shills as "demonstrations").

[SunkenCiv]

[JoeProBono]