So apparently tomorrow the State Assembly is going to put the Governor’s proposed budget up for a vote tomorrow.
After the passage of Proposition 25 last November, which allows for the adoption of a budget on a majority vote, this should be a non-event. While not one Republican will go up on Brown’s budget, not one Republican vote is needed… EXCEPT…
Oh yes, Brown’s budget has not been revised to accept the political reality, which is that there are no Republican votes to place the largest tax increase in the history of any state on the ballot this June. And Brown has not responded by putting forward the additional cuts necessary to present a real, balanced budget to the legislature.
So what we have tomorrow is a game of political theater. Which makes you wonder what the liberal Democrats will do with their votes. These committed leftists don’t support any cuts in California’s generous social safety-net spending. So will they put up votes for tomorrow’s cuts, knowing that they are just part of the dance?
Given the additional cuts that need to be made to balance the budget, above those already proposed by Brown, maybe they will vote for the "first stage" of cuts — we’ll just have to wait and see.
Ultimately, however, Democrats can take some consolation. Once they absorb that they will not be seeing Republican votes for a tax increase on the ballot, they will realize that they will not need one Republican vote for a "no new taxes" budget.
For my part, I am betting on a heavy negotiation between SEIU, CTA, and Brown — the result of which will be substituting in a lot of the gimmicks that Brown has said he will reject, to buy time while the unions advance major tax increases for a Fall special election, or in mid 20120 (look for the Rogues gallery of terrible tax policy – split roll, oil severance, corporate taxes, taxes on services, and taxes on taxes).