Capitol Alert just posted an article about Sen. Abel Maldonado naming the price of buying his vote for the largest tax increase in state history:
- A blanket primary in which the top two vote-getters make the general election.
- Denial of per diem to legislators if they don’t pass a budget on time.
- A ban on legislative per diem and pay increases in budget deficit years.
- Removing unspecified pork from the budget package.
Gosh, can Maldonado’s litany be any more transparently self-serving?
Abel wants to run statewide in 2010, and knows that voting for a $14 billion tax hike makes him a dead-candidate-on-a-stick in a closed GOP primary. Apparently, he believes he’d fare better as a tax-hiker in a blanket primary — although I think he’d be just slightly-less dead meat even in that set-up.
Demands 2, 3 and 4 are intended to position Abel as a populist, non-nonsense "reformer" in said blanket primary, with the hope they’ll take the edge of the tax-hike voters will be smarting from next June every time they make a purchase or fill up their car.
Capitol Alert also reported that Maldonado might discount his vote in the end for the bargain price of just one or two items on his list.
Gee, what a deal for the taxpayers.
February 16th, 2009 at 12:00 am
An open primary is a great way to stifle debate and get milk toast candidates. Given the state’s registration, its possible to not have Republicans on the ballot in large portions of the state, like San Francisco, where I live, and the rest of the Bay Area.
February 16th, 2009 at 12:00 am
It also makes the votes count for Republicans in San Francisco where you live. Right now no one even needs to talk to you. There used to be a legislator who had his staff mark the party registration of people having problems with government so that he could prioritize members of his own party. That’s just wrong and if we have an open primary politicians at least have to give some consideration to all voters.
February 16th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Also in the places where they have an open primary, they tend to have more competitive elections both primary and general than in other states.
February 16th, 2009 at 12:00 am
It also makes the votes count for Republicans in San Francisco where you live. Right now no one even needs to talk to you. There used to be a legislator who had his staff mark the party registration of people having problems with government so that he could prioritize members of his own party. That’s just wrong and if we have an open primary politicians at least have to give some consideration to all voters.
February 16th, 2009 at 12:00 am
All due respect to Cap Alert, but these were Maldonado’s terms over 24 hours ago. As noted last nite on FR – http://tinyurl.com/b7vq3u – most of these demands end up losing other Senate votes…it means nothing if his aye vote loses others. More specifically, the pork he wants removed likely means Ashburn doesn’t get what he was “offered” to vote yes, so that would mean the Dems gain one Rep vote while losing another. Then there’s the pork Correa got in the deal…the Dems can’t lose one of their own in any deal with Maldo.
February 16th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Maldonado just said, on the floor right now, that the votes will not be there tomorrow.
February 16th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Price of taxpayer vote….all RINOS resign from Republican party. State unions to be immediately replaced by a civil service system. No politican will vote on any bill affecting finances of any kind if he took donations from groups, lobbyists, individuals or his grandfather…All lobbyists banned from a 200 mile radius of Sacramento for 100 years. All enviornmental laws assessed for economic impact in dollars; if the adverse impact is over $1,000. a vote of the citizens of California is warranted at the next scheduled election….all visitors and long time occupants must have a nice day and not accept any welfare, health care, education dollars without 2/3 approval of the legislature….yawn I am tired..goodnite.