Thread: CA. Senate passes Democrats’ budget plan without GOP votes

State Senate passes Democrats’ budget plan without GOP votes

June 29th, 2009, 1:32 pm
by BRIAN JOSEPH, Sacramento Correspondent

Senate Democrats joined their Assembly colleagues this afternoon in using a legislative loophole to pass a budget solution and tax increase without a single Republican vote.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, however, reiterated that he will veto the Democrats’ plan, passed with a simple majority.

Typically, budgets and tax increases require a two-thirds majority. With a little more than a third of the State Legislature controlled by Republicans, that means Democrats need some GOP support to get their agenda through.

However, in December, Senate Leader Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, uncovered a loophole that would allow Democrats to increase taxes while decreasing others, so that the net impact is zero.This move allows Democrats to pass a budget and tax increases on a simple majority vote.

The Democrats plan was vetoed by the governor in December, but Democrats have held the idea of a simple majority vote in reserve for a rainy day.

Today, they say, it’s pouring. If something isn’t done to address the $24.3 billion budget deficit by the end of tomorrow, the state will begin issuing IOUs.

In an attempt to avoid the IOUs, the Democrats pulled the simple majority card late Sunday, when the Assembly passesd the budget plan.

With the clock ticking, Republicans have rejected the Democrats’ plan because it includes tax increases and it falls short of addressing the entire deficit.

The governor shares the Republicans’ opposition and has repeatedly said - Sunday, today, last week - that he will veto the Democrats’ simple majority plan.

Steinberg, the Senate Leader, concluded the voting this morning by saying he’s still willing to work with the GOP and the governor to craft a full solution to the deficit before the IOUs go out. At 4 pm today, the Senate is scheduled to vote on a budget package that would delay the issuance of IOUs for several weeks. The package was approved in the Assembly last week, but it was previously blocked by Senate Republicans.

The Senate will try to pass it this afternoon, even though the governor has said he’ll veto it.

http://totalbuzz.freedomblogging.com/20 ... tes/18289/

I know how to settle the budget crisis without raising taxes and relieving the pressures of Ca. schools, roads, medical: Deport the millions of illegals that live here. The 40% of illegals that are not working in the Fresno area, go home. If they are not working, guess who is supporting them. I do not mind my tax dollars going to out of work Americans, but illegals, NO. Tell them they have 45 days to take care of their crap and leave. After the 45 days we will hunt you down, which won't be hard as we know who you are, and deport you. The real myth is that they are living in the shadows.

If the Dem's passed the budget w/out Rep. votes, then let the Dem's pay for it!

I left California in 2002 because I felt like I was being pushed out by the disrespectful immigrants. I moved to Arizona. I didn't realize that what they were doing in California, they are doing all across the country. Personally, I think we woke up in time. But, it's going to take work for all the movement forth we lost because we thought our government was looking out for us on this topic.

Time to let them know it won't be tolerated. I am trying to get back to California. I intend to be one of those people that helps take the state and this great country back from the illegals and the politicians.

I left California in 2006....am NOT going back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HERE IS A BIG SOURCE OF THE PROBLEMS.

The California State Legislature currently has a Democratic majority, with the Senate consisting of 25 Democrats and 15 Republicans; and the Assembly having 49 Democrats, 29 Republicans, 1 Independent, and 1 vacancy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California ... egislature

Some budget items and all tax increases require a 66% super majority.

The republican governor can't write the budget, but he can veto it, or any part of it.

Originally Posted by ELE

If the Dem's passed the budget w/out Rep. votes, then let the Dem's pay for it!

The republicans voted, they just voted NO.

With the clock ticking, Republicans have rejected the Democrats’ plan because it includes tax increases and it falls short of addressing the entire deficit.

The governor shares the Republicans’ opposition and has repeatedly said - Sunday, today, last week - that he will veto the Democrats’ simple majority plan.