REPUBLICANS SHOULD PRESS FOR A VOTE, AND VOTE TO SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR’S REVISIONS
You’ve heard it from FR contributor and Board of Equalization Member Bill Leonard already, but the first order of business in the State Capitol should be to schedule an immediate up or down vote on the Governor’s proposed budget revisions.
Newly minted Republican legislative leaders Senator Dennis Hollingsworth and Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee should ask for an up or down vote right away.
Let me tell you, there is plenty for everyone to dislike in that package, whether you hail from the left or the right. For my part, some of the cuts to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and borrowing money from local governments really don’t sit well with me. And I know that there are a lot for those on the side of a big government "safety net" to hate.
Nevertheless, on balance, the Governor’s proposal constitutes the kind of deep, programmatic cuts that we need to take to solve the state’s immediate, immense financial shortfall.
Republicans should provide 15 votes in the Senate, and 29 votes in the Assembly for this proposal, and Democrats should bite the bullet and provide 6 votes in the Senate and 12 votes in the Assembly.
Even if the Democrats don’t put up a single solitary vote, there is a huge public relations reason for Republicans to all vote aye. A demonstration that in a "cuts" budget, Republicans understand that the voters expect quick and decisive action – and it also, presuming they don’t go along with the cuts, paints Democrats into the corner of being advocates for another game of “insider politics” where everything is decided in the back halls of the State Capitol.
While there are many cases where I advocate letting the perfect be the enemy of the not-so-perfect, this would not be one of them.
Let’s a vote going before the weekend, and let’s show the voters that their message was heard. Vote for the Governor’s proposed revisions to the budget. The sooner legislators act, the better.
EMMERSON’S GOOD IDEA – DROPPING NON-BUDGET LEGISLATION
Yesterday in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Republican Assemblyman Bill Emmerson penned a column that put forward an outstanding idea. In the Assemblyman’s own words, excerpted from 
the piece…
We think this is a tremendously good idea, and believe that Senate and Assembly Republicans should very seriously consider embracing this proposal, and really pushing forward with it. This could start with two high profile press conferences by GOPers in each house, with each member dramatically coming forward and reading out a list of non-budget related bills that they are officially, “suspending until the fiscal crisis in state government is resolved.”
This really would paint the Democrats as the party that continues to make California a more expensive place to work and live, and Republicans as being laser-focused on the economy, jobs, and resolving the state government funding crisis.
Of course, to add to GOP incentive to pursue Emmerson’s ideas is that, as the minority party, very little (if no) truly meaningful legislative that has been authored by Republicans is going to pass out of the legislature anyways.
GOVERNOR’S VISIT WITH BEE ED BOARD TO BE BROADCAST LIVE ON WEB
Friday at 11am, FlashReport readers can tune in to the Sacramento Bee’s website to see a live webcast of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s visit with that papers significantly left-of-center editorial board. You’ll recall that this is the editorial board that was so tone-deaf that they repeatedly called for the passage of more taxes on the May 19th ballot, and invariably they will press Schwarzenegger to back off of his newfound commitment to solve the fiscal crisis going forward with no additional taxes on Californians.
But, of course, the real dramatic question that will only be answered with the live-chat starts – will Bee columnist Dan Weintraub be wearing a tie, or not? We consulted the odds-makers who actually give 4-1 odds that he will not be wearing one, given his natural 
proclivity to avoid putting one on anyways. That said, we note that Dan also has a knack for "dressing for success" (most reporters and columnist scorn formality). This simply is not “just another editorial board meeting” – this is a live presentation to the public of a meeting with the Governor of California. Perhaps respect for the office would demand more formal attire? Tune in to find out what Dan does, or doesn’t wear (around his neck) tomorrow!
Care to read comments, or make your own about today’s Daily Commentary?
Just click here to go to the FR Weblog, where this Commentary has its own blog post, and where you can read and make comments.