No deal, but California lawmakers to begin voting on state budget

Sacramento Bee ^ | 6/10/11 | Kevin Yamamura

[SmithL]

Gov. Jerry Brown is still trying to close a bipartisan deal with Republicans to place taxes on the ballot and erase a remaining $9.6 billion deficit, but time is running out.

State lawmakers are staring at a Wednesday constitutional deadline to pass the budget. The full Senate is scheduled to debate today without a handshake deal in place.

We answer some common questions below:

Why does Brown need Republican votes? Didn't we pass a measure allowing the majority party to approve the budget?

A two-thirds vote is still required to approve taxes, place taxes on the ballot and take money from redevelopment. Brown's plan to bridge the remaining gap includes all of these items. Republicans say Democrats should solve the budget without more taxes. Democrats say they have already approved more than $10 billion in cuts to universities, health care and welfare.

Besides taxes, what are state leaders discussing?

Republicans are pushing for ballot measures that curtail pension benefits and restrict spending growth. They also want to change some environmental regulations. Democrats are open to these items in exchange for a short-term tax extension and a tax election.

Is an election required to pass taxes?

No. Lawmakers can do so with a two-thirds vote. But Brown promised last year he would not raise taxes without a vote of the people.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

I have to say, if I were a California Republican, I’d vote to let a majority pass a budget and taxes. The state is at the point where the population has to be able to squarely pin the failure on one party or another. The CA Dems and CA media still can issue propaganda that those nasty old Republicans are getting in the way of recovery. If I were the GOP, I’d want to sit out a cycle and let the Dems have their way.

[SmithL]

So if no bipartisan deal emerges by June 15, lawmakers won't get paid?

They may still. Legislative Democrats could send the governor a balanced budget that relies on additional cuts and accounting maneuvers to eliminate the deficit.

That would meet the pay requirement, but it would risk a gubernatorial veto, given that Brown has said he will not sign a budget that relies on "gimmicks." Even if Brown vetoes their budget, lawmakers get paid under Proposition 25.

This would be funny, except it's not!

[SmithL]

The majority cannot pass a tax increase unless they have Republican votes. If Republicans sit this one out, the only possible budget is an all-cuts budget.

[blueunicorn6]

Jerry Brown on leadership - “Should I wear my brown shoes today or my black ones? I know! I’ll ask the people to vote on it because I’m too chicken sh_t to make a decision.”

[tflabo]

Democrats are open to these items in exchange for a short-term tax extension and a tax election.

Since when does forever become 'short term' with LIEberals?

[Opinionated Blowhard]

I know, but at some point you have to let them run the show. The CA voters obviously think the Democrats solution is better so let them live with it. Let the CA legislature raise taxes to high Heaven and increase spending. Its the only way the people will learn. If they like it and want to live in a Socialist paradise, so be it.

[Rick_Michael]

I live in Ca...it’s so unfortunate that this beautiful state is full of liberals. Yeah...I’ve given up on voting for local elections here and to some extent on presidents...because my vote is meaningless. They want to change nothing here...just more of the same and yet they still complain.

[wac3rd]

Every cop, fireman, teacher and toll taker with a six figure lifetime retirement and 100%-paid health insurance thanks you.

Go to the City of Oakland and try to get a zoning variance.

It will cost you $100K and three years.

And these 400 lb. state workers get paid, irrespective of what happens to the private sector.

[fifedom]

The CA voters obviously think the Democrats solution is better so let them live with it.

I am glad you do not live here. This "let the house burn down to clean it out" approach sounds good unless you are in the house.

There are tens of millions of conservatives here. When Tom McClintock lost for controller a few years back he polled more voters than any Republican candidate in the country including those in Texas.

To paraphrase Churchill, "We will fight them on the beaches. We will fight them on the streets. We will never give up."

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

Like you, I too am a Partisan freedom fighter operating behind enemy lines. I hope one day to cut through the barbed wire and escape California Gulag behind the gay Velvet Curtain and rejoin with my fellow Americans in a red state somewhere.

In the meantime, I will continue to engage in acts of sabotage with my other Partisan freedom fighters in the California Free Underground voting against tax increases and bond proposals, voting against local liberals and for local conservatives, and yes, even voting in national elections, even though the majority communist occupiers win every election and I lose everyone.

I plan to escape this commie hell hole upon retirement. Until then, I will continue to fight as a good resistance fighter should in the California Free Underground, wrecking havoc with my conservative votes of sabotage and chaos. I am proud to join with you and the rest of the resistance fighters of the California Free Underground operating behind the enemy lines of the Velvet Curtain.

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

As a native born San Franciscan baby boomer who never lived anywhere but Califoornia for any length of time, I'm giving up the second I retire and when I do, I'll cross the siegried line into Nevada, and inspired by the scene from "Saving Private Ryan", look back over my shoulder toward California, shout "Don't shoot, let 'em burn!"