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California: Two S.J.-area Republicans regret budget votes
Stockton Record ^ | September 20, 2003 | Will Shuck

Posted on 09/20/2003 9:33:14 AM PDT by John Jorsett

SACRAMENTO -- A pair of San Joaquin-area Republicans who believe they were duped into voting for the state budget say Democrats will have a tough time getting their support again next year.

But an initiative headed to the March ballot would mean their votes aren't needed anyway.

Assembly members Greg Aghazarian and Guy Houston were among a handful of Republicans who voted for the budget bill, helping break weeks of partisan gridlock. But they did so only after extracting promises from majority Democrats that schools, farms and rural law enforcement would get more money. By the time the final gavel fell on this year's legislative session in the early hours last Saturday, the plums for which they voted had died in the Senate. In essence, they had voted for nothing.

Both men say it won't happen again.

"It will cause me pause next time, and I will always second-guess whether or not they are acting in good faith," said Aghazarian, of Stockton. "What's the saying? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."

"You bet" it will be hard to get another vote, said Houston, of Livermore. "If there's no trust, if there's no willingness to live up to agreements or obligations, I don't know how a government can function."

Houston believed he was getting $50 million for education equalization, a way to help suburban schools. And Aghazarian thought he was getting, among other things, $34 million for rural law enforcement.

Republicans were criticized for their last-minute bargaining, because their caucus was demanding expensive add-ons after charging that Democrats hadn't cut spending enough. Houston said he and others offered Assembly Democrats "revenue neutral" ways to meet his demands, but that Democrats chose not to make additional cuts to pay for the GOP-proposed programs. In the end, Senate leader John Burton, D-San Francisco, let the revisions die rather than consider them in the upper house.

Although Democrats have a controlling majority in both houses, they still need Republican support to enact a budget or raise taxes because of the constitutional requirement of a two-thirds -- or 67 percent -- majority in both houses for either action.

But a ballot measure backed by union and employee groups would change all that, reducing the majority requirement to 55 percent -- low enough that not a single Republican vote would be needed.

Sponsors of the Budget Accountability Act have gathered more than 1 million signatures to place the measure on the March 2 ballot. If about 600,000 of those signatures are deemed valid, the measure will go before voters.

And if the measure passes, it will become law March 3, months before the Legislature is scheduled to adopt the next budget.

A statewide Field Poll this week showed that support for the measure depends largely on how it is explained to voters.

Houston said he doubts it will pass.

"I think the citizens of California are a lot smarter than that," Houston said. "And I think Californians would be very foolish to just give an open checkbook to those who would like it."

But Gale Kaufman, a spokeswoman for sponsors of the Budget Accountability Act, said voters will support those portions of the measure that promise to punish politicians who can't pass a budget.

"The Legislature has been unable to fix the state's chronic budget problems," Kaufman said. "That's why we were able to collect over a million signatures for the initiative in under 60 days."


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: calgov2002

1 posted on 09/20/2003 9:33:14 AM PDT by John Jorsett
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To: John Jorsett
</ sigh > when are the Republicans gonna learn that they can't trust the dems. [looking for signs of frost in the underworld]

Red

2 posted on 09/20/2003 9:37:12 AM PDT by Conservative4Ever (Wm. Wallace did not cry 'diversity' while being disemboweled.)
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To: John Jorsett
"Both men say it won't happen again."

If it were up to me I would see these idiots never had the chance to vote on a budget again, ala no reelection. Typical RINO's or Wimps, one is just as bad as another.

3 posted on 09/20/2003 9:40:47 AM PDT by JustAnAmerican
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To: Conservative4Ever
Is there some Republican boot camp or training school that young gullible Republicans can be sent to in order to teach them how to deal with the fascists/ First rule - Never trust the lying, conniving, back stabbing, power mad, thieving Democrats.
4 posted on 09/20/2003 9:45:40 AM PDT by Enterprise
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To: John Jorsett
" But they did so only after extracting promises from majority Democrats that schools, farms and rural law enforcement would get more money."

Idiots! Even without the promises from the RATS, they are overspending by wasting it on failed schools and farm subsidies.

5 posted on 09/20/2003 9:51:56 AM PDT by lormand (Dead people vote DemocRAT)
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To: John Jorsett
I had better hopes for Guy Houston, who's a decent man.

First rule of politics: NEVER trust a Democrat politician.

6 posted on 09/20/2003 9:54:43 AM PDT by CounterCounterCulture (McClintock for Governor.)
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To: Enterprise
Don't know of any...but if there is..I nominate you for DI.

D@mn, but you are good.

Red

7 posted on 09/20/2003 9:58:55 AM PDT by Conservative4Ever (Wm. Wallace did not cry 'diversity' while being disemboweled.)
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To: Enterprise
Dang, didn't see your post until I posted mine (HONEST!)
8 posted on 09/20/2003 10:00:14 AM PDT by CounterCounterCulture (McClintock for Governor.)
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To: John Jorsett
SACRAMENTO -- A pair of San Joaquin-area Republicans who believe they were duped into voting for the state budget say Democrats will have a tough time getting their support again next year.

But an initiative headed to the March ballot would mean their votes aren't needed anyway.

Assembly members Greg Aghazarian and Guy Houston were among a handful of Republicans who voted for the budget bill, helping break weeks of partisan gridlock.

< -snip- >

Houston believed he was getting $50 million for education equalization, a way to help suburban schools. And Aghazarian thought he was getting, among other things, $34 million for rural law enforcement.

These guys are upset because the double-crossing Democrats didn't spend even more money?

Enough of them. Vote them out.


9 posted on 09/20/2003 10:01:15 AM PDT by Sabertooth (No Drivers' Licences for Illegal Aliens. Petition SB60. http://www.saveourlicense.com/n_home.htm)
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To: John Jorsett
Join Us…Your One Thread To All The California Recall News Threads!

Want on our daily or major news ping lists? Freepmail DoctorZin

10 posted on 09/20/2003 10:16:17 AM PDT by DoctorZIn
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To: Conservative4Ever
"</ sigh > when are the Republicans gonna learn that they can't trust the dems. [looking for signs of frost in the underworld] Red "

judas rino's discover their ill-gotten "silver"; has turned to "peso's"...

11 posted on 09/20/2003 10:22:24 AM PDT by hoot2
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To: Sabertooth
The GOP at all levels has been infested with RINO's and soccer-moms. Both parties have made major shifts to the left. Even thought the GOP still claims to be "right of center" it has made major moves toward the left. It is not the party of "smaller government"...at best it has become the party of "not as big government as the Dems" but big government nonetheless. I'll but the "smaller-government" line just as soon as they give the department of education fewer dollars than it was given the previous year, not just smaller growth.
12 posted on 09/20/2003 10:41:44 AM PDT by Orangedog (Soccer-Moms are the biggest threat to your freedoms and the republic !)
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To: John Jorsett
I think there are a couple of GOP Assembly Members in the Valley who are wishing they hadn't signed onto the budget, too. However, remember, Dave Cox HIMSELF signed it. Sheeeeesh.
13 posted on 09/20/2003 10:43:52 AM PDT by Saundra Duffy (For victory & freedom!!!)
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To: John Jorsett
A scorpion needed to cross a flood to reach the high ground that lay beyond. As he could not swim, he asked the toad for a ride across. The toad said "I don't swim as well as my brothers and though I am going to the high ground myself, if I let you close to me you will sting me and I will die." The scorpion purred "No, my friend, I could not sting you for then I would never reach safety. If I sting you I will fall into the water and drown." The toad considered and, being kind hearted, agreed to give the scorpion a ride. Halfway across the water the scorpion stung the toad. As he slipped under the water the toad cried, "Scorpion, why did you sting me, you have killed us both!" The scorpion lamented as he sank, "I can't help myself, it is my nature."
14 posted on 09/20/2003 11:00:19 AM PDT by ambrose (Free Tommy Chong!)
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To: CounterCounterCulture
It's just that I continue to be astounded by the gullibility of Republicans from the State Houses to the Halls of Congress. Sometimes the gullibility is just head banging stupid. Time and again I am reminded of Lucy holding the football for Charlie Brown. (Excuse me, I need to bang my head against the wall some more).
15 posted on 09/20/2003 11:48:20 AM PDT by Enterprise
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To: Saundra Duffy
True. Briggs might have had a better chance of making it to Congress. He caved, now he wonders if it was worth it.
16 posted on 09/20/2003 11:49:50 AM PDT by Enterprise
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To: Conservative4Ever
Took the words right out of my mouth.
17 posted on 09/20/2003 1:11:54 PM PDT by CyberAnt ( America - "The Greatest Nation on the Face of the Earth")
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