Word is getting back to FlashReport HQ (far from the State Capitol) that a full-court press is underway to strongarm/cajole/extend-false-promises to Assembly Republicans to try and cajole out the necessary votes to get ACA 8 out of the Assembly.
Assembly Republicans know better. Property rights is a corner-stone issue for our party and for our party’s activists and donors. I would be extremely surprised if the redevelopment lobby, who for years has been abusing private property owners, will be able to turn GOP votes for this terrible bill simply by spending a lot of money to hire pseudo-GOP lobbyists.
The reality is that a vote to pass out ACA 8 is what we would call here a "watershed" vote — it will define those Republicans who do so as being non-respectful of one of the most basic core-values of the GOP. What does this mean? A VOTE FOR ACA 8 WILL BE USED TO DEFINE CANDIDATES IN FUTURE PRIMARIES AS BEING BAD ON PROPERTY RIGHTS. Heck, given the passion on this issue out here (away from the Capitol), a bad vote on this core issue might even INVITE a primary unbidden.
Given that this is a #1 priority for the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association among other key property-rights groups, I have trouble seeing how solid GOP legislators would move on this. Remember — the REAL KELO FIX is qualifying for the ballot next year, and ACA 8 is a wolf-in-sheeps-clothing, designed by the redevelopment industry to preserve their ability to violate the rights of property owners.
Republican legislators are encouraged to tell this mountain of lobbyists being financed by the ill-gotten gains of eminent domain abuse to go pound sand. Like I said, every promise will be made for "future amendments" or scare tactics will be implemented.
Republicans hold strong — the 2/3 vote requirement is there for placing items on the ballot for a reason. And there is a reason why EVERY DEMOCRAT supports ACA 8. Do the right thing — property owners (all of them, not just some of them) are counting on you…