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

Anthony York over at Capitol Weekly is reporting that there is unrest amongst Republicans as a result of this "Big-5, Big Taxes" deal.

I typically refrain from commenting on legislative caucus politics, and will continue to do so. But I will continue to express a high degree of frustration that seemingly overnight, the position of Republican leadership went from "taxes are terrible and we completely oppose them" to "taxes are terrible but not having them is more terrible and now we support them."

My overwhelming feeling is one of disappointment at this situation, and that our leaders are going "maverick" when their caucuses overwhelmingly oppose the tax increases.

Again, I am not trying to be critical of Cogdill and Villines as individuals — they are both good people. But I do feel that the "art of the deal" is supplanting the "team" concept that is so important to achieving long-term success.

I do hope that part of the… 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

The massive Obama “porkulus” bill just passed the House. Not one Republican voted for it. Wish I could say that every Senate GOPer would do the same…… Read More

We’ve all seen those "what they’re saying" PR missives organizations send: round-ups of media quotes praising the pet project or cause of the transmitting organization.

But it’s downright depressing to see one from the Senate Republican Caucus promoting tax increases!

It was surreal to open my "Republican Budget Solutions" e-mail the Senate GOP Caucus this morning, and find it chockful of quotes from liberal editorial pages, heaping praise upon the massive tax increase package being touted as a Budget solution."

We have entered through-the-looking glass territory. opposing higher taxes and supporting tax reduction is one of the few issues on which California Republican retain credibility with the voters — and it’s absolutely insane to believe it is worth pawning our party’s soul in exchange for a budget deal that is certain to fail as a solution to the budget deficit.

Sen. Dave Cogdill is dead wrong to claim this is the "best deal" we can get. Enabling the state to gobble an even greater portion of the people’s wealth while simultaeously forsaking the Republican Party… Read More

Tomorrow is the big day. Instead of spending Valentine’s Day with my wife, I will have the privilege of voting on a state budget.

As of this posting, my offices have received 246 phone, faxes or emails from actual constituents opposing the proposed tax increases and 20 phone calls supporting them.

The media talks about the pressure on legislators. It is always easy when you are on the same side as the constituents.

See everybody tomorrow.… Read More