Posted on 02/12/2009 10:02:59 AM PST by SmithL
As Senate Democrats huddled Monday for a late-night briefing on the budget negotiations, one Democratic senator was missing: Lou Correa.
His absence was no mere happenstance.
The Orange County Democrat, who proudly campaigned in 2006 as "a different kind of Democrat," still hasn't committed to Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg that he'll support a negotiated budget pact with new taxes.
If he doesn't, the whole deal could well fall apart.
Steinberg, D-Sacramento, met privately with Correa at least three times in the last 48 hours to press his case.
At the Sacramento Press Club Wednesday, Steinberg declared, "I expect all the Democrats to vote for the budget. Absolutely. No exception."
In large part, that's because legislative Republican leaders have made clear that negotiations with Democrats and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger are for the bare minimum of GOP votes needed to pass a budget – three in each house.
California is one of only three states in the country to require a two-thirds threshold to pass a state budget, greatly empowering the GOP minority.
"I've negotiated it to the point where I think it doesn't get any better," Senate Republican leader Dave Cogdill said.
But there likely won't be a pact without Correa's support.
"I just don't think it gets out if he doesn't go up on it," Cogdill said.
Reached in the Capitol Wednesday, Correa declined to comment on his budget stance.
His office appeared to be braced for the worst, however, given the long Capitol tradition of punishing wayward lawmakers
. . .
One Correa mailer featured the image of a handshake and Correa's signature. "I do not support tax increases without voter approval," the mailer reads.
But Steinberg is hoping Correa, along with any GOP lawmakers who signed a no-new-taxes pledge and ends up voting for a budget deal, will ultimately break such promises.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
legislative Republican leaders have made clear that negotiations with Democrats and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger are for the bare minimum of GOP votes needed to pass a budget – three in each house.
SO, has the CA GOP leadership already decided which six Republicans will be expected to break their word?
The ones in the safest districts will be expected to “take one for the team.”
Oh this could get interesting.
December 18, 2008
One Democrat -- Lou Correa -- opposes package
*************EXCERPT*****************
No surprise here: The Democratic-backed budget package passed out of the state Senate early this afternoon on a majority vote.
The only real suspense was whether Sen. Lou Correa, a moderate Democrat from Orange County who squeaked into the Senate in 2006, would support the package.
He did not.
Government doesn't have ANY money!!! (of it's own)
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