Update:  After 2 3/4 hours and 42 speeches debating this bill, the predicted outcome is official, the bill, AB 9 XXX, a tax increase [requiring 2/3’s, 54 votes] was defeated 45-30, no Republicans present voted for it, all Dems present but one voting "aye." 

AB 9 of the 3rd Extraordinary session is being introduced by Chuck Calderon for Speaker Nunez.  This is the bill to raise taxes on oil produced within Califonia.  [Thereby increasing dependence on imported oil if you believe as I do that taxing something causes there to be less of that product or activity.]  43 Democrats are coauthoring the bill.  
Thankfully it requires a 2/3 vote to pass so we all know going into this debate that the bill will fail and that it will cost Californians tens of thousands of dollars to process and run this bill through committee and on our floor.  Since this is ostensibly a bill to help fund education, how many teachers could be paid instead of the cost for this bit of theater for this sure-to-fail bill?  Not to mention the tone-deaf attitude of this legislature toward record fuel prices for working Californians.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 12th, 2008 at 12:00 am and is filed under Blog Posts.