I was born in California, and I've spent a few years living there. I'm sure glad I don't live there now.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger prepared to lay off 10,000 state workers and his administration said it would halt 275 more public works projects.
California is one of only three states which require a 2/3 majority to pass a budget (Arkansas and Rhode Island are the other two), and it's also home to some of the looniest anti-tax Republicans in the country. Right now they can't get three Republicans to sign off on what looks like a pretty draconian budget already, because it's got $14.4 billion of desperately-needed tax hikes in it.
If I were one of those 10,000 state workers I'd be pretty ticked, and I'd be thinking about organizing some of my fellow employees to go march around a few Republicans' homes. With torches and pitchforks. At night.
Posted by Linkmeister at February 17, 2009 12:01 AM | TrackBackI don't know if you followed the dramatic outcome. Sen. Abel Maldonado, the deal-making vote, insisted as the price of his vote that he get 3 things:
A bill requiring a popular vote on an open primary, winner-take-all style, no parties.
A bill prohibiting legislators from getting raises during years when the state is in deficit (which is most years).
Removal of the 12-cent gas tax increase from the deal.
He got them all. The Calif. GOP wants his nuts served up with salsa, but he has my vote if he wants to run for governator. The only one I disagree with is the gas tax - we should be steadily increasing the gas tax to cover the real cost of burning fossil fuel. But that's another rant.
Posted by: hedera at February 23, 2009 06:28 PM