There isn’t much point in my expending a lot of time this morning chastising Senate and Assembly Democrats for their plans, this morning, to try to stick Californians with billions of dollars in new taxes, using some scheme where they brazenly attempt to navigate around the State Constitution’s requirement for a 2/3 vote to raise taxes. Through sleight of hand and bizarre terminology, Democrats are planning to hike the state’s income, gas, and car taxes (and that’s not all) — and do it with a majority vote (Republican legislators have appropriately and boldly said NO to any tax increases to solve a chronic overspending problem).
It seems to me that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is the one in the spotlight here. The Governor has already called for the legislature to increase taxes by billions of dollars as part of a package that he put forward designed to close the overspending gap not only with spending cuts but also with new taxes. Yeah, we get that. It’s disappointing, but we get it.
But this Proposition 13 end-run that is being quarterbacked by Senate President Darrell Steinberg and Assembly Speaker Karen Bass goes directly to a more fundamental issue — while the Governor may be advocating that Republicans vote to increase taxes, does he believe that it is morally or legally correct to participate in a scheme to push aside the super-majority vote requirement for raising taxes? The one put into place by a vote of the people?
**There is more – click the link**
December 18th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Jon,
This same Governor abandoned any and all respect for the voters’ will as expressed in Proposition 22 or, more recently, Prop. 8 regarding homosexual marriage. I doubt that he cares about the people’s will anymore.
While I absolutely hope he will veto this illegal attempt to circumvent Prop. 13, I will be mildly surprised if he does use his veto pen rather than sign it.
Lets hope I am pleasantly surprised today.
December 18th, 2008 at 12:00 am
I hope that the Governor does support some version of the proposal since the Republican legislators seem to have their heads stuck in the sand. It is about time that the Republicans actually become realistic and realize we need both cuts and more revenue.
December 18th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Sacramento gets it. Govern on a popularity basis only. Forget leadership since there is none.
Principle be damed. Party, power and politics are the only thing that matters. Common sense is a commodity not to be found in Sacramento.
December 18th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Nice to see Republicans dependent upon the actions of the Govenror and the Supreme Court – after both have been the subject of recent browbeating on this site.
Look forward to their continued disappointment.
December 18th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Hey Jon, any word on where the potential or announced candidates for Governor in 2010 stand on this end run? Regardless of what Arnold does, I think it would be very telling to hear what they would do in this situation. It might even be a litmus test for me.
December 18th, 2008 at 12:00 am
That’s a good question, Andy. I have sent inquiries to the point people for both Steve Poizner and Meg Whitman. We’ll see if they take me up on an offer to print statements from them on this very issue.
December 18th, 2008 at 12:00 am
A guy goes to a bank and wants to withdraw money from an account. The banker says, “You can sign on this account, but to withdraw money, another signature is required.” Instead of getting the other signature, the guy decides to rob the bank.
I think this is pretty much Steinberg is doing. I have my issues with the Governor, but I don’t believe he would go along with this. I believe that he has more respect for the law than this.
December 18th, 2008 at 12:00 am
If the Governor goes along with this scheme, I hope everyone who endorsed Arnold over Tom McClintock finds it within themselves to apologize for that endorsement.
Every single elected Republican should very vocally oppose this scam to insure and demonstrate there are no Republican fingerprints on it.
December 18th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Arnold the Weak comes through…sees more room for negotiation…..read all about it…
I see some weak knee libs posting to this article….are you nuts…we have the highest state taxes in the nation and the biggest moocher population in the industialized world. Taxes bring moochers and tons of useless government worker slugs pampered with bloated salaries, overtime up the gazzoo, many PC Holidays, generous vacations, tons of sick days, lots of family leave to take care of your third cousin pregnant by her grade school sweetheart Clarence in West Virginia…
What we need is an “organized bankruptcy” administered by federal judges not intimidated by the government worker kabal….these unions must take a “haircut” ala Ms.Pelosi reasoning…
This is change you can count on…for change is change for change sake…..for peet sake!!
The socialists have ruled the RED UTOPIA into the ground….lets get some people working for the citizens outside of the Sacramento sandbox..