State Senator Dave Cox, who has been talked about as one of three potential AYE votes for the $14++ billion tax package, has apparently filed some amendments at the desk to the Big Five Big Tax plan. Contents of those amendments? UNKNOWN.

That said, Senators Dave Cogdill and Roy Ashburn are presumably ready to support the package. Coincidentally, the two of them are off of the floor right now.

So all eyes are now on the Sacramento Area Senator — Cox.

In the meantime, is there enough solidarity in the Assembly Republican Caucus not to JAM the process. We’ll see how this goes!

As Drudge would report… Developing…… Read More

3:30 PM Update: The Governor’s Office has responded to Zycher’s observations below, and that response can be found here.

As we rush speedily into a vote tonight on a "Big-5" produces budget plan that includes nearly $15 billion in assorted tax increases, one of the major "concessions" that is in the plan, to "sweeten it" for GOP support is the placing of a Spending Limit Initiative on the ballot (though we note that the Limit, if it passes, also extends the tax increases).

One of the policy experts on economics and state finances that I look to in this area is Dr. Benjamin Zycher of the Pacific Research Institute. Zycher was asked by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association to review the final language.

… Read More

UPDATE: Well, it’s not news. But if you are looking for something to do, click here and look to the bottom of the right hand column. You’ll see Dave Cox mentioned…

Well it would appear that the State Legislature is going to meet into the wee hours.

Conventional wisdom seems to be that in the Assembly, Republicans Villines, Adams and Niello are set to go up on $14 billion++ in tax increases. In the Senate, Republicans Cogdill and Ashburn seem ready to go up on the taxes, but the third vote is being elusive. It belongs to State Senator Dave Cox who is the only other Senate Republican who has not make it clear he is opposing the plan.

Currently Cox is proposing an amendment concerning how Proposition 10 monies are reallocated (a pet issue of his). Apparently Cox has a whole boatload of amendments, and I suspect that one of them… Read More

Mike Genest, Governor Schwarzenegger’s Director of Finance has offered this response to Dr. Zycher’s concerns about the Spending Limit Initiative language in the current "Big 5" deal: Dr. Benjamin Zycher made five observations regarding the budget stabilization fund contained within the current budget agreement. In response to his “observations,” I offer five factual statements. Zycher observed: The degree to which the estimated revenue projection trend and the Budget Stabilization Fund would operate actually to limit general-fund spending is not clear.

Incorrect. The governor could not simply suspend the transfer of revenues into the new rainy-day fund. While Article XVI Section 20 (e) of the state constitution currently allows governors to suspend the… Read More

Today could be one of the worst economic days in US history.

Congress may pass the most expensive aggressive pork laden spending bill ever. Only with thehelp of 3 pathetic Republican senators.

Back home, our legislature is set to impose more taxes on the highest taxes in the US, only to preserve union power. The only way to force new taxes, votes must come from Republicans.… Read More

FYI – The Whitman for Governor campaign has already (in some cases) or is about to (in other cases) announce these federal and state legislative endorsements: Congressmen Wally Herger and Buck McKeon, State Senators Dave Cox and Mark Wyland, Assemblymembers Roger Niello and Audra Strickland, as well as an endorsement from former Assembly Republican Leader George Plescia.… Read More

The job of being a legislative caucus leader is to represents the interests of their caucus members. There is no doubt that overwhelmingly Senate and Assembly Republicans oppose these proposed, outrageous taxes. So why aren't the leaders doing their job, and going back to the Governor and Democrats and saying this plan doesn't work? And if they aren't doing that, are the Republicans who elected them to leadership holding them accountable? When individual legislators fold on a bad plan, it's on them. When legislative leaders do it, everyone who put them into their leadership spots are equally responsible. At least to my way of thinking.… Read More

I’ve already posted information regarding Sacramento Supervisor Roberta MacGlashan’s effort to eliminate the $2.4 million Sacramento County spends providing free, non-emergency healthcare to citizens of other countries. Now, the issue caught the ear of the local radio powerhouse Armstrong & Getty program…here’s a clip…

This issue is growing with tight budgets across the state – and ten other counties currently fund similar programs providing free healthcare, above and beyond emergency and public health, to citizens of other countries.… Read More