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California Governor Schwarzenegger Rejects GOP Senate Leader’s Call to Reopen State Budget Negotiations Without Tax Increases
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks during an event February 17, 2009 at the State Captiol in Sacramento, California. California lawmakers remained deadlocked Wednesday over a plan to increase taxes to tackle the state’s budget deficit as Republicans ousted their legislative leader for his support of tax hikes
California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger held a noon time new conference on his State of California Website and rejected newley elected GOP Senate Leader Dennis Hollingsworth’s call to reopen stalemated California state budget negotiations with taxes off of the table. He said those Senators that think the California State Budget shortfall can be solved without new tax revenues do not know their math and need to retake math 101.“Anyone that runs around, I think, and says that this can be done without raising taxes, I think has not really looked at it carefully to understand this budget or has a math problem and has to get back, as I said, and take Math 101,” Schwarzenegger said.
In the meantime, the California State Senate has reconvened and Senate Democrat Leader Darrell Steinberg called up AB 3, the budget tax bill for a vote and it failed 23 to 12 (27 affirmative votes necessary for passage). Note: GOP Senators Cogdill, Ashburn and Cox did NOT vote along with Democrat Senator Correa.
Steinberg then took to the floor of the Senate and said he would call up a vote every hour on the hour and update the state of the state if a budget does not pass today. This hour was a potential loss of federal transportation money.
Stay tuned……
Technorati Tags: Darrell Steinberg, Dennis Hollingsworth, Arnold Schwarzenegger
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Will GOP Senator Abel Maldonado Break the California Budget Stalemate and Sell Out California Taxpayers?
State Senator Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria, gestures while calling for more reforms on the state budget plan before the Legislature, at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, Feb. 16, 2009. Maldonado has been pressured to vote for the spending plan, hammered out between Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders
This is the question as the California State Senate is set to reconvene at 10 AM in Sacramento.So, what does Senator Maldonado, the reputed stalemate breaking vote really want?
On Monday, Maldonado said he would “take a look at” voting for the budget package if it included financial penalties for future legislators who fail to pass state budgets on time or drive the state into deficit. And Maldonado, who lost a 2006 bid for state controller to a more conservative challenger, said he wants future California primary elections to be “open,” allowing voters to cross party lines to cast a ballot.
Though widely believed to want to run again for statewide office, Maldonado said in an interview: “An open primary is for the people of California, it’s not for me. I don’t want anything in this budget that’s for me. I’m not for sale.”
Yet, Senator Maldonado has made it clear over the weekend what is on his WISH LIST.
The Santa Maria Republican told reporters Monday outside his office that his list of demands includes four things. He wants an open primary system similar to those used by local governments in which the top two vote-getters regardless of party run in the general election. The system is said to favor moderate candidates, such as himself, rather than encourage primary hopefuls to woo voters at their party’s extremes. He acknowledged he plans to run for statewide office, but sold the open primary as more of a “good government reform.”
The open primary change would have to be approved by voters. Maldonado did not specify when he wanted it, but sources said he has asked that it be included on the May special election ballot before Maldonado attempts to run for statewide office next year.
Maldonado wants two items sure to be unpopular with his colleagues. He wants a law passed so the state would stop paying lawmakers if they do not approve the budget on time. He also wants a ban on legislative pay raises and per diem increases in years when California faces a budget deficit. An independent board, the California Citizens Compensation Commission, currently sets legislative pay.
And he threw in one last item: remove the pork spending from the budget package. He didn’t specify what qualified as pork, but leaders already have provided small sweeteners for various members to help win their support, such as $35 million annually for Orange County, where Sen. Lou Correa lives. Maldonado also wants to block state Controller John Chiang from spending $1 million on new office furniture, something Chiang’s office said was approved before Chiang was elected.
Maldonado sounded amenable to only getting part of his wish list, however. “I think government reform is a priority. It could be one, it could be two, at the end of the day, I want government to be reformed.”
It is obvious that the Senator wishes to run for California statewide office and wants his vote breaking the California State Budget Stalemate as a quid pro quo to help facilitate that result. However, what Maldonado does not understand is that by selling out California taxpayers, he will incur their wrath both Republican and Democrat.
The Democrat Leaders and Governor Schswarzenegger have played him the perfect fool. They will blame him as to holding up the proceedings and anything untoward as a result of the passage of the budget they will blame Abel.
So, rather than being an anti-tax hero in the GOP, Maldonado will be played a patsy by the Democrats and end his political career.
Not a smart move, Senator. Not for yourself or the California taxpayers.
In the meantime, California taxpayers can help persuade Senator Maldonado to not support the Big 5 budget deal with its concomitant tax increases. Here is his contact information:
Capitol Office
State Capitol, Room 4082
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4015
Fax: (916) 445-8081
San Jose Office100 Paseo de San Antonio, #206
San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: (408) 277-9461
Fax: (408) 277-9464
Monterey Office590 Calle Principal
Monterey, CA 93940
Phone: (831) 657-6315
Fax: (831) 657-6320
San Luis Obispo Office1356 Marsh Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Phone: (805) 549-3784
Fax: (805) 549-3779
Technorati Tags: Abel Maldonado, California, California State Budget, Arnold Schwarzenegger
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Shocker: California on the BRINK of Financial Collapse? Governor Schwarzenegger Ready to Send 20,000 Layoff Notices
California on the Brink screams the Drudge LEDE.Shocking?
No, because California has been in financial trouble for some time now and RINO GOP Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is the main cause for his inability to lead and govern the Golden State.
So, where does California stand and what is the urgency?
Lawmakers adjourned tonight until Tuesday after failing for the third consecutive day to muster an elusive final vote for the state budget package.
The move came after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said he would send 20,000 layoff notices on Tuesday and other administration officials warned of construction stoppages if the $40 billion budget shortfall and the associated cash crunch are not resolved.
Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, said the Senate would consider the critical tax increase bill on Tuesday morning, whether or not a third Republican senator comes forward to provide the deciding vote. He said the house would stay in session until the package was approved.
“Bring a toothbrush, bring whatever necessities you need to bring,” Steinberg told senators as the house shut down for the evening.
The tentative deal would bridge an estimated $40 billion budget gap through a massive mix of program cuts, borrowing and new revenues, including vehicle license fee increases and higher gasoline, sales and personal income taxes.
Key elements require passage by a two-thirds majority of the Senate and Assembly – thus three GOP votes in each house.
The California State Senate will reconvene at 10 AM this morning and the tax bill will be taken up. Should the Big 5 Legislative Leaders not be able to persuade one GOP California State Senator to flip their vote for the California State Budget with tax increases, the stalemate will continue.
And, according to Democrat Senate Leader Steinberg, the Senators will be locked in the State Senate chamber until there is a resolution.
Here are the details of the Big Five crafted plan.
Revenue
The plan would raise up to $14.4 billion through June 2010 by imposing a variety of temporary taxes. The higher taxes would be in effect for two years. However, Republicans would allow taxes to remain longer – two more years – if voters approve a state spending cap during a special election in May.
Here are the specific taxes:- Increases the state sales tax by 1 cent on the dollar, generating $5.8 billion through the next fiscal year.
- Raises the fee for licensing vehicles to 1.15 percent of market value, up from the current .65 percent. The move is projected to generate $1.5 billion. A portion of the fee will be dedicated to local law enforcement.
- Adds a 12-cent gasoline tax, raising $2 billion.
- Imposes a one-time, 5 percent surcharge on people who owe personal income tax at the end of 2009 to generate $3.2 billion. If the state receives more than expected from the federal government, the surcharge would be reduced to 2.5 percent.
- Reduces the amount taxpayers can claim on a dependent care credit to the federal level of $100 instead of $300, adding $1.4 billion.
- Redirects $201.6 million of tribal gambling revenue from the state Department of Transportation to the general fund over the two-year period. The money is intended to offset the effects of increased traffic around Indian casinos.
The GOP Senate Caucus does not support the above tax increases and insist that more cuts in state government spending be made.
Stay tuned as the California State Budget Stalemate continues.
Flap will be live microblogging the California State Senate Session on Twitter (in the right sidebar) ——>
Technorati Tags: Darrell Steinberg, Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Budget
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California State Budget Stalemate Continues – Will Senator Abel Maldonado Flip And Sell Out California Taxpayers?
California State Senate Chamber, State Capitol, Sacramento, California
After a weekend of a continued California State Budget stalemate, the California Assembly and Senate are to meet this morning to again take up the matter.Dan Walters at the Sacramento Bee has a good summary of the weekend’s machinations – which at the time of this posting seemingly has NO end in sight.
Even jaded veterans of the Capitol’s often bizarre internal politics had never seen anything quite like the weekend marathon over the biggest package of spending, spending cuts and taxes ever to hit the building – a spectacle that’s still playing itself out with no end in sight.
The package was cobbled together by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and four legislative leaders in weeks of private negotiations to close a $40 billion budget deficit over the next 16 months.
Legislators had just hours to absorb the dozens of bills, the most vital of which, under the state’s unusual voting rules, required two-thirds votes and therefore at least three Republicans in both legislative houses.
The outcome was never in doubt in the Assembly, whose GOP leader, Mike Villines, enjoys strong support among his colleagues. The issue has been the Senate’s 15-member, notoriously fragmented Republican contingent whose leader, Dave Cogdill, is always about one vote away from being dumped – if anyone else would take the job.
Cogdill would vote for the package along with Bakersfield Sen. Roy Ashburn, but the third GOP senator was elusive throughout the weekend as speculation – and outside pressure – shifted from one senator to another.
Flap has been covering and micro-blogging the events in the California Assembly and State Senate on Twitter (right sidebar) and Facebook (right sidebar, but below). Continuing coverage will resume at 9 AM PST (now pushed back to Noon) with the Assembly and 11 AM with the State Senate.
If you readers wish to watch the proceedings via live video you can do so in two ways:
- Time Warner Cable Television Channel 233 (Los Angeles area) – California Channel
- Online California Channel here (But, this has proven to be erratic due to too much traffic)
The latest rumor from the Capitol is that Senator Abel Maldonado is negotiating with Big 5 Legislative Leaders and Governor. He will provide the necessary vote to approve tax increases and the state budget in return for a vote on a spending cap initiative, plus a vote on a California Open Primary (Top 2 Washington Plan) election system on the May 19, 2009 special election (called to approve other budgetary enabling measures, including bonds for future lottery proceeds).
So, the question is: Will GOP Senator Abel Maldonado flip to the Democrats and Governor Schwarzenegger and sell out California taxpayers?
Contact one of his offices and ask him:
Capitol OfficeState Capitol, Room 4082
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4015
Fax: (916) 445-8081
San Jose Office100 Paseo de San Antonio, #206
San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: (408) 277-9461
Fax: (408) 277-9464
Monterey Office590 Calle Principal
Monterey, CA 93940
Phone: (831) 657-6315
Fax: (831) 657-6320
San Luis Obispo Office1356 Marsh Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Phone: (805) 549-3784
Fax: (805) 549-3779
Technorati Tags: Abel Maldonado, California, California State Budget, Arnold Schwarzenegger
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Chuck DeVore Preempts Arnold Schwarzenegger By Announcing California GOP Endorsements
California GOP Assemblyman and U.S. Senate candidate Chuck Devore’s Web Ad: Barbara Boxer and her tax and spend colleagues in Washington just spent $620 million dollars on a brand new Capitol Hill Visitors center that was $360 million over budget and three years late.If California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger wishes to run for Barbara Boxer’s California U.S. Senate seat he will have to get a move on it. Yesterday, Assemblyman Chuck DeVore announced a plethora of Republican elected backers, including 26 of the the current 29 GOP members of the California Assembly.
The Assembly and Senate endorsers:
Assembly (not including DeVore himself)
- Mike Villines
- Anthony Adams
- Joel Anderson
- Bill Berryhill
- Tom Berryhill
- Sam Blakeslee
- Connie Conway
- Paul Cook
- Mike Duvall
- Bill Emmerson
- Jean Fuller
- Ted Gaines
- Martin Garrick
- Danny Gilmore
- Curt Hagman
- Diane Harkey
- Kevin Jeffries
- Stephen Knight
- Jeff Miller
- Dan Logue
- Brian Nestande
- Jim Nielsen
- Cameron Smyth
- Audra Strickland
- Van Tran
Senate (6)- Jeff Denham
- Bob Dutton
- Bob Huff
- George Runner
- Mimi Walters
- Mark Wyland
Of course Arnold can spend unlimited amounts of his own money on media and raise tons more as California Governor but DeVore is pushing the California budget embattled Governor to either fish or cut bait in this race.
Will Arnold show his hand soon?
How about new California resident Mitt Romney or Meg Whitman?
Stay tuned…
Technorati Tags: Chuck DeVore, Barbara Boxer, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mitt Romney, Meg Whitman
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California Democrats Attempt to Balance State Budget By Violating the California Constitution But Arnold Schwarzenegger Says NO
Howard Jarvis, chief sponsor of the controversial Proposition 13, signals victory as he casts his own vote at the Fairfax-Melrose precinct.†June 1978. Courtesy of the Los Angeles Times
Even RINO California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will NOT take on Prop 13 and the California Constitution.Democratic leaders sent Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger an $18 billion deficit-cutting package on Tuesday, a plan he quickly vetoed as anti-tax groups filed a lawsuit to stop it.
The activity came amid the Legislature’s third special session since the November election to deal with California’s worsening budget deficit, projected at $42 billion over the next 18 months.
With Schwarzenegger’s veto, time is running out for lawmakers to find a midyear fix. The state controller has warned that California will be so short of cash it will have to start issuing IOUs in February to vendors and taxpayers expecting refunds.
Democrats said their plan would have avoided what Schwarzenegger has described as a “financial Armageddon,” but it appeared to be dead even before it arrived on the governor’s desk.
California Legislative Democrats tried an end run around the California Constitution that was amended in 1978 by Proposition 13 that requires any increase in taxes be affirmed by a 2/3rd’s vote of the Legislature.
If the Governor were to have a change of heart and approve such an outrageous scheme, the California Supreme Court would quickly issue an injunction and/or a referendum petition would be quickly filed by California voters.
Looks like the California Legislature better get busy and cut spending.
Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Proposition 13
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Al Franken, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Barack Obama, Bill Richardson, Caroline Kennedy, Day By Day, Rod Blagojevich, Roland Burris
Flapsblog.com: Day By Day by Chris Muir January 4, 2009 – Papering Things Over
As Barack Obama spiritual advisor Jeremiah Wright said, “The chickens are coming home to roost.”First, it was Hot Rod Blagojevich and his corrupt appointment of Roland Burris to Obama’s U.S. Senate seat along with the interference by Democrat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.
Second, the NEPOTISM of a possible Caroline Kennedy appointment to Hillary Clinton’s U.S. Senate Seat.
Third, the apparent win of Al Franken, who is an incompetent a pol as Jesse Ventura and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
And, now, there is the withdrawal of New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson from his Obama appointment to become Secretary of Commerce because of corruption charges.
But, what do you expect from a MSM who did not properly VETT the Democrat Party or Obama during the last election cycle.
Chickens coming home to roost, indeed.
Technorati Tags: Al Franken, Barack Obama, Bill Richardson, Caroline Kennedy, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Roland Burris, Rod Blagojevich
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California To Be Out of Money in February
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, December 1, 2008
California will be out of cash in February unless the Democrats and Republicans can repair the state budget.California is on track to run out of cash in February or March and faces a $15 billion cash shortage by the end of its fiscal year in June unless officials plug an $11.2 billion budget gap, according to the state’s budget director.
Additionally, if Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and lawmakers fail to close the current fiscal year’s budget shortfall soon, California, the most populous U.S. state, may in March delay payments to its vendors or hand them notes promising payment, according to a Dec. 1 letter to top lawmakers from the director of the Department of Finance, Michael Genest.
The Democrats in the California Legislature refuse to cut spending and the Republicans refuse ANY tax increases. Governor Arnold proposes some spending cuts, a sales tax increase and perhaps a motor vehicle registation fee hike.
Stalemate.
When will there be a deal?
Flap bets when the state runs out of money and government offices are forced to close – but not before.
Technorati Tags: California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Legislature
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California Assemblyman Chuck DeVore Releases Web-Ad Attacking Senator Barbara Boxer
Barbara Boxer and her tax and spend colleagues in Washington just spent $620 million dollars on a brand new Capitol Hill Visitors center that was $360 million over budget and three years late.As an opening salvo against the 69 year old incumbent Democrat Senator Barbara Boxer this ad is NOT bad – at least somebody from the California GOP is questioning the far left leaning Boxer.
Assemblyman Chuck DeVore said, “Barbara Boxer and Harry Reid may think it’s worth $621 million to protect their delicate noses from the American public, but I think this over budget and late building project is symbolic of the greater waste we’ll be seeing with more than a trillion dollars in bailouts.California can’t afford Barbara Boxer.â€DeVore has opposed all the federal bailouts, suggesting that the free market needs both failure and success to operate properly.
Of course, Chuck DeVore, a California Republican Assemblyman, who is in his third term wants her job in the United States Senate and has announced his candidacy.
DeVore for California announced additional endorsements today, picking up the support of three veteran lawmakers, Senators George Runner and Mark Wyland, as well as Assemblyman Martin Garrick.Newly elected Republican Assemblymembers Diane Harkey and Dan Logue also joined the effort.Last week, DeVore’s U.S. Senate campaign announced the support of newly elected Congressman Tom McClintock and ten other lawmakers.
Devore will have an uphill battle against the long time incumbent Democrat Senator Barbara Boxer, particularly if the rumors about California Governor Arnold Swarzenegger and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney bear some fruit. Both Arnold and Mitt could self-fund a GOP primary race in the expensive California media market.
But, undeterred by the rumors, DeVore is utilizing a new social media strategy to spread the early word about his candidacy. The website is here.
Stay tuned…….
Technorati Tags: Chuck DeVore, Barbara Boxer, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mitt Romney
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California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Supports Overturn of California Proposition 8 But Opposes Gay Marriage
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Against Gay Marriage and Proposition 8STEPHANOPOULOS: Proposition 8 here in California, it passed, defining marriage as exclusively for men and women. I know you’ve said you hope the court overturns it. Will you join Democrats who are filing a challenge in the court?
SCHWARZENEGGER: No. I mean, I have been asked to join this fight, and I had my own fight with Proposition 11, and that’s what I’ve focused on.
But I made it very clear. I personally am — for me, marriage is between a man and a woman. But I don’t want to ever force my will on anyone.
I think that the Supreme Court was right by saying that it’s unconstitutional. And that everyone should have the right, just like we had the battle in 1948 and the Supreme Court decision came down, that, you know, it was unconstitutional for blacks and whites not to be able to get married with each other, and they overturned that. And since then, that has been taken care of.
And now the Supreme Court says that it’s also unconstitutional to not let gay people get married, the same-sex marriage. So to me, that is the important decision here, and everything else is not that important. So people can pass initiatives, like Proposition 187 passed under Wilson that said we should not give, you know, Latinos and those that are illegally here any educational services or any kind of medical services. The Supreme Court said, well, the people maybe had some intentions there, but it’s unconstitutional.
STEPHANOPOULOS: So you think the courts should overturn Proposition 8?
SCHWARZENEGGER: The court has overturned it. And now they went back. And the people have voted for it again, against the gay marriage. So the Supreme Court, you know, I think ought to go and look at that again. And we’ll go back to the same decision, basically.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And you believe they will.
SCHWARZENEGGER: I think that they will. And I think that the important thing now is to resolve this issue in that way.
SCHWARZENEGGER: In a peaceful way, rather than, you know, going out and protesting, and going out and boycotting and all those things. I think that’s not the best way to go about it.
STEPHANOPOULOS: In the meantime, some legal experts have suggested that you should, if you believe that, issue an edict, a ruling, that says that the marriages that have already taken place in California are absolutely legal. Will you do that?
SCHWARZENEGGER: Well, I have to get together with Jerry Brown, our attorney general, and see what the legal opinion is, because he’s my lawyer, basically. And so, we always do those things together.
STEPHANOPOULOS: But you’re inclined to do it?
SCHWARZENEGGER: It’s a conversation that I can have with him about the — if that’s the legal way to go.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is talking out of both sides of his mouth AGAIN. He supported the No on Proposition 8 effort early on but yet did NOTHING for the campaign.
Now, Arnold wants the California Supreme Court to impose gay marriage again while he says virtually nothing about the harassment and intimidation by gay marriage proponents of Proposition 8 supporters.
Flap thought Arnold took an oath to support and defend the California Constitution which the voters amended November 4th?
California’s economy is in a shambles, unemployment is rising, wildfires rage and Arnold has been the worst Governor in modern California history. Too bad there is not enough time remaining in his term to recall him before he does more damage.
Technorati Tags: Gay Marriage, Arnold Schwarzenegger