Free Republic

But Republicans accused Democrats of subverting the will of voters and setting a historic precedent for raising taxes in California, calling the maneuver "stunningly cynical." They warned that Democrats would soon increase other fees to make up for budget shortfalls if they are successful in their majority-vote plan. "This is a very historic day," said Senate Republican Leader Dave Cogdill, of Modesto. "Certainly we've been a long time coming to this point where we have reached such frustration with the laws of this state, with the people and their will as it relates to how taxes should be raised, that...

Democrats are growing anxious about a state initiative filed last month by a prominent Republican attorney to change the way California assigns its presidential electors, even though the proposal has no discernible financial backers yet. Rather than assign all of California's 55 electoral votes to one candidate under the current winner-take-all system, the initiative would split the nation's largest electoral bounty between two or more candidates. Filed by GOP lawyer Thomas Hiltachk, it would give a presidential candidate one electoral vote for each congressional district he or she wins in California, plus two additional votes to whomever wins a plurality...

Rep. John Doolittle, R-Roseville, took a hit from the Washington Post last week for using his campaign treasury to pay baby sitters for his daughter, now 14. "Mr. Doolittle makes $165,200 a year as a member of Congress," the Post editorial said. "His wife has already taken in close to $100,000 in commissions this year as his fundraiser. They should pay the sitter, as other working parents do." The Post identified $5,881 in child-care costs that Doolittle has paid with his campaign committee funds since 2001. A review of Federal Election Commission reports by The Bee came up with $7,207...