CA: State GOP refuses to budge on taxes, unlike Republicans across the U.S.

Mercury News ^ | 6/30/03 | Ann E. Marimow

[NormsRevenge]

SACRAMENTO - In at least a half-dozen states, Republican governors and legislators have bucked their party's aversion to taxes and reluctantly pushed increases to deal with unprecedented budget shortfalls that have wracked state governments.

Not in California.

Republicans aren't budging on their ``no new taxes'' pledge. Democrats, for their part, oppose deeper spending cuts. The standoff has paralyzed the Legislature, which -- short of a miracle -- will fail to meet its constitutional deadline to enact a budget by midnight tonight.

[mgc1122]

Well, I hate to break it to this writer, but in Missouri, the GOP led legislature told the rat governor Holden twice to stick his tax hikes ... and won the day.

[Cold Heat]

The primary reason some repubs have relented to tax increase pressure is that many states have a balanced budget clause in their constitution. They must balance the budget or cut services that many people depend on.

That is the political reality and how it happens. Usually they cut some and raise some.(as we did here in Arkansas)

California seems to be able to do whatever.

[John Jorsett]

Maaaaahm, all the other kids are hiking taxes. Why can't I hike taxes tooooo ...

[sauropod]

"When Republicans were in charge in Sacramento, it was another story.

During the last recession in the early 1990s, GOP Gov. Pete Wilson balanced the budget through cuts and tax increases. And the California GOP's most revered conservative, Ronald Reagan, backed tax increases when he first took office as governor in 1967."

I see the SJ Mercury Poisoning News doesn't bother to put this into context.

Blatant media bias.

[Ingtar]

LOL - as much of a minority as the Republicans are in California, how are they holding up the Democrats?

[Thud]

Why should our Republican legislators give an inch? The Democrats have guaranteed them safe seats - each party's incumbents have had their districts gerrymandered for maximum incumbent protection. The Democrats couldn't protect their own without protecting Republican incumbents too.

Computer-aided gerrymandering means that general elections don't count anymore for legislative races. Only primaries matter.

And this gives the public what they want - an opportunity to blame someone else for the mess without responsibility for doing anything about it.

[John Jorsett]

The primary reason some repubs have relented to tax increase pressure is that many states have a balanced budget clause in their constitution. They must balance the budget or cut services that many people depend on.

California has the same provision in its constitution. Trouble is, the government bypasses it with tricks every year. They 'project' revenues that will never attain the levels they say. They assume rosey interest rates for borrowing. They (illegally under state law) finance ongoing operations using borrowed money. With one-party rule like we have, there's no stopping them, except like now, when the Republicans are digging in their heels and refusing to go along. The only thing standing between Californians and huge tax hikes is the two-thirds requirement to pass a budget. The Dems are talking about an initiative to lower that to 55%, something that they managed to get approved by voters for bond issues a couple of years ago. Surprise, bonded indebtedness shot up as every single statewide bond issue was approved in the last election.

[snarkpup]

LOL - as much of a minority as the Republicans are in California, how are they holding up the Democrats?

Supermajority needed for the budget.

[pabianice]

At least the Republicans didn't take a bus to Utah and hole-up in a motel...

[Cold Heat]

People never cease to amaze me.

Here in Arkansas it is no different.(we were only about 120 million short or less) You cannot cut something because every spending cut causes the whine and cheese bunch to complain. Then the same bunch complains about the cost.

It never ends.

[John Jorsett]

LOL - as much of a minority as the Republicans are in California, how are they holding up the Democrats?

California requires a two-thirds majority to pass the budget and they therefore need a few Republican votes in both houses to attain it. So far, only one Republican has shown signs of caving. State Senator Jim Brulte has threatened to campaign against anyone who crosses over.

[JohnnyZ]

In at least a half-dozen states, Republican governors and legislators have bucked their party's aversion to taxes and reluctantly pushed increases to deal with unprecedented budget shortfalls that have wracked state governments.

But in many other states they've held firm. Minnesota and Missouri are good examples. Colorado too, I'm sure.

[NormsRevenge]

Ping

[Common Tator]

CA: State GOP refuses to budge on taxes, unlike Republicans across the U.S.

California Republicans are just trying to fix it so their obstructionism will take the blame for the economic mess in California. They are doing their best to keep Gray Davis in office.

Did you ever notice that the California Republicans and Tom Daschle both attended he School of Failed Political Tactics?

[Uncle Hal]

The attacks on the GOP by the liberal rags is just beginning. June 30 is the final date for the state budget to be passed and obviously it will not happen. So the libs will go after the GOP blamming them for its stance on taxes for no new budget. This plus the recall of Davis assures an interesting summer in CA.

[rabidralph]

No tax hike in Maryland, so far. But car registrations will cost 10 dollars more to pay the shock trauma doctors.

[BarbaraS.]

California also has term limits (which I originally favored).
In Northern California we recently had two Rep. legislators
who voted with the Dems.on the budget.
One got defeated in the primary as he ran for another office and the other got a nice high paying job as the head of Vets. Affairs.
When these guys are "term limited" they are pretty easy to bribe.

[Saundra Duffy]

I saw Assemblyman Ray Haynes and Assemblyman Steve Samuelian at a pro gun event Friday night in Fresno. They told us that the Republicans will not budge even if it means SHUTTING DOWN THE STATE!!! Yahoo!!!!!!!!!

[Simmy2.5]

What is this? A damn if you do, damn if you don't case? If Republicans don't cave in, they are "helping the Dems (like Gray Davis) keep their job". But if they do cave in, wouldn't that mean that the Republicans are going AGAINST their principles of low taxes and less spending (I know nationally the Republicans caved in, but I'm not talking about the national Republicans here)? Wouldn't they, in effect, be a slave to the Democratic Party again, and would effectively be, a weak party that conservatives (the few of us that are still here) wouldn't trust again?

BTW, I not saying that the California Republican Party is a great party by any stretch of the imagination (espeically given the great track record on statewide elections). However, when they are doing something that even APPEARS to show solidarity and finally putting their foot down against the stupidity that reign the party and state for years, you bash them again. Its as if, no matter what they do, they can NEVER get it right.

The logic Common Tator. Never a dull moment.