Today the members of the California State Senate return after their summer break. They follow on the heals of their Assembly colleagues who went back into session last Monday. On the occasion of the Assembly’s return, I penned a column which I would commend Senate Republicans to read as well.
But the gist of it is that Senate Republicans, who now number a cool dozen with the addition of State Senator Andy Vidak, have an opportunity over the next month or so before the formal end of the 2013 legislative session on September 13 to demonstrate unity and solidarity. While Democrats will technically enjoy a super-majority in the Senate, it will be just barely as one Democrat Senate seat is vacant and will not be filled before the end of session.
What does this mean? It means that if Republicans stay united as a caucus that Senate President Darrell Steinberg will need to corral every single one of his caucus members in order to pass legislation or Rules maneuvers that require the super-majority vote. That will not be easy for the left-wing Steinberg because there are a number of Democrats in his caucus who are not, like Steinberg, tools to carry out the will of the state’s public employee unions and the trial bar. It is also important to remember that GOP unity here means that Democrat targets will have to cast bad votes in order for two-thirds votes to pass.
The unity of Senate Republicans, along with their Assembly GOP colleagues (who can block a super-majority vote if they stick together, due to two Democrat vacancies) is most important because this is when potential big donors to next year’s legislative campaigns will be watching. If the next month sees Republicans fracturing, and enabling the agenda of Governor Brown and legislative leaders, that will not auger well for the 2014 elections.
So to the Senate Republican Caucus — it’s time to “rally around the hat” — Andy Vidak’s cowboy hat that is. And show that his victory is a harbinger of more to come…