California Republicans oust Senate leader, dig in
posted at 9:37 am on February 18, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
The game of chicken in Sacramento just claimed its first victim, one that has to send a chill down Democratic spines. Republicans in the state Senate ousted their leader, the man who crafted a deal with Democrats to resolve the budget standoff with massive tax increases as part of the package. The GOP has apparently accelerated their car, and the Democrats will have to decide whether to swerve or crash:
A state budget deal to close a $41 billion shortfall has been put further into question early this morning after Senate Republicans ousted their leader who had helped negotiate the long-awaited plan with other top lawmakers in California.
The unusual action occurred as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democratic lawmakers tried for a fourth night in a row to persuade at least one more Republican senator to cast the deciding vote on the budget, a move officials said is necessary for the state to avoid insolvency.
Speaking to reporters outside his office, the ousted Minority Leader Dave Cogdill, R-Modesto, said, “It’s a shame it ended like this.”
Cogdill was one of the four legislative leaders who negotiated the emergency budget deal with the governor. Their compromise budget package, reached after three months of negotiations, contained nearly $16 billion in program cuts, $11 billion in borrowing and $14.4 billion in tax increases. The most contentious debate has been over the proposed tax hikes.
Republicans selected Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth, R-Murrieta (Riverside County) as their new Minority leader. Hollingsworth is part of the conservative wing of the Senate Republican caucus and he has been adamantly against raising any taxes.
I’d call that a statement. It certainly sends a message to party leadership that the California GOP will not willingly follow along with more tax increases in a state that already has become one of the worst for tax burdens in the nation. California did not get into its financial crisis through low taxes, and higher taxes won’t provide anything more than a Band-Aid on a gaping wound.
The budget needs more than just $16 billion in cuts. California needs a real austerity program, one that sheds government workers and government programs. The Golden State also needs to stop borrowing money, which comes from the massive spending. How massive? The governor’s office claims that they have kept spending level at $105 billion per year, but even at that rate, they spend more than 20 times what Minnesota does while only having about six times the population. (And we spend too much as well; we’re facing a $7 billion biennial budget deficit at the moment.)
Until the legislature gets serious about budget cuts, higher taxes only provide a junkie’s fix to addiction. The Republicans just signaled a cold-turkey approach, and they’re willing to throw their own leadership under the bus to get it. They look serious about fixing the real problems. Will the Democrats get serious, too, or go tharn in the headlights?
Blowback
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its a start, if only specter and crew realized they could have forced more concessions from the democrats.
rob verdi on February 18, 2009 at 9:40 AM
My God. Who are these Republicans in California? Didn’t they get the memo concerning the Dole Doctrine? Which is to play hardball (looks good in the press) until the moment of truth, and then cave.
BobMbx on February 18, 2009 at 9:40 AM
Finally, some sanity is making its way back into government. A small step, but a very important one.
Don’t have money, Cali? CUT ENTITLEMENTS, stop idiotic spending on moronic programs like stem-cell research, don’t regulate the life out of industry (including your nasty and selfish regulation on autos that will cost ALL OF US) and stop all services to illegal aliens – who have no business being there in the first place.
progressoverpeace on February 18, 2009 at 9:42 AM
Hmmm- throwin’ out bad leadership- well what’da ya know.
ExTex on February 18, 2009 at 9:43 AM
This is how it’s done, conservatives…. small but effective… let the ground swell begin!
MNDavenotPC on February 18, 2009 at 9:43 AM
GOP is coming back. The signs are good.
promachus on February 18, 2009 at 9:44 AM
Politicians need to FIGURE IT OUT.
More Californians are UNemployed than ever. HOW are they going to be helped by:
Raising gas taxes? ONE tank of gas will cost $2.40 per week MORE NOT including the new SALES TAX increase.
What’s 1% sales tax increase going to cost? Another $10 per month.
Doubling the car tax will cost$250 a year MORE.
And yet, NO THOUGHT of CUTTING our bloated government. EVEN the pink slip announced will take MONTHS to happen.
THINK people. CUT the spending NOW.
These Democrats are the type of morons that don’t want a WAL-MART to come into their cities! WHY NOT? They save CA already over $30 BILLION a year. They don’t want MORE of our money in our own pockets?
THINK! Schwarzenegger has FAILED Californians.
originalpechanga on February 18, 2009 at 9:44 AM
Reporting from San Diego, there’s been a groundswell of issues, from excessive pension obligations of government employees, the drain of resources from illegals, frustration with the obnoxious liberal social agenda, the political dominance of LA and San Fran, coming to a head. We are living in interesting times.
ignorantapathy on February 18, 2009 at 9:46 AM
How dare these people. Actually standing for something. It goes against what the Republican Party has been working on for the last few years. You can’t be “bi-partisan” while you hold onto your belief system. You must give in to the Democrats. They are smarter than the rest of us.
/sarc
kingsjester on February 18, 2009 at 9:47 AM
GREAT!!!! This is how it is done – are others looking and listening? If it can be done in California, it can be done ANYWHERE!!! You don’t have to be the majority party to get business done! I makes me so hopeful!
When my business is having a “shortfall” I have to find ways to cut spending and increase income – but that never works for government!
mkosin on February 18, 2009 at 9:47 AM
Whereabouts in “Central Virginia” (if you don’t mind me asking)?
How’s that Kaine working out for you. He’s the one that had the budget surplus and still was trying to raise taxes. So it’s not really about the economy with these Democrats (and Arnold): Budget defecit? Raise taxes! Budget surplus? Raise taxes!
Abby Adams on February 18, 2009 at 9:48 AM
I hope it stays gridlocked like this. The only thing misses is the popcorn lol
Libertarian Joseph on February 18, 2009 at 9:48 AM
Good for these republicans. Demonstrate who has the right policies. Don’t buck down to failure.
jencab on February 18, 2009 at 9:49 AM
Return of the Living Dead? Hello.
RepubChica on February 18, 2009 at 9:49 AM
Face facts:
States run by majority Conservative are in the BLACK, mostly well managed, higher employment, lower costs, have gun rights intact, lower crime rates, better place for families, higher precentage of church goers, high charity giving, quality of life as represented in many surveys is much higher as is the fact that the populace wants to stay and is happy in the State.
Compare, shall we:
States run by Liberals are mostly BROKE, old, dirty, run down, high welfare, huge unemployment, union run, lower charity giving, more crime and gangs, rampent abortions, horrible to raise kids in the urban cesspools, less church attendance, survey of residents say HUGE MAJORITIES would like to move out of State, do not like where they are… In NJ that is 72% in a recent survey, want to leave due to taxes, jobs and corruption.
*** And yet, the people in these horribly run States continue to elect the same exact radical leftists that cause the huge taxes and corruption. SCREW THE IDIOTS!~ Hell they just elected the Messiah to do the same thing on a Nation wide bases… Turn America, even the well run Conservative States, into hell holes like CA. and NY.!
Stop voting for radical Liberals, vote Conservatives and get your States in order, boot out the unions, clean out your schools, enact the death penalty and allow concealed carry, round up illegales and deport, lower taxes and attract business with reduced regualtions. Lower welfare, promote families and adoptions…
California and New Your, New Jersey, Michagan, Ohio… So many morons and idiots complain about where they live and taxes and so on and so on, but keep the SAME EXACT CROOKS in office… Too fricking bad CA, too bad NY, your idiots and deserve all you get and more…
Until you wake up Dems loons, live in the filth YOU caused by your moronic votes and choices of Liberalisam!
And oh, btw, STAY OUT OF MY STATE AND MY POCKET TO FIX YOUR FRICKING MESS!
Mark Garnett on February 18, 2009 at 9:49 AM
How much do the Sanctuary policies cost them?
Pam on February 18, 2009 at 9:49 AM
The only way to save California is for them to stand up to the ACLU. Sacramento is trying to stop non-emergency services to ILLEGAL aliens and the lawsuits have already started stating violations of their 14th Amendment RIGHTS. Our Constitution was never meant to protect anyone except our citizens and they are destroying the very document that our country was built on.
California is spending at least $5 Billion a year providing services to people that are breaking the law.
sherryande on February 18, 2009 at 9:50 AM
You can roll over and be a laughingstock or you can man up and fight with some pride and self respect. You may not always win but you can look yourself in the mirror and know you did the right thing.
Being a useful idiot for your political enemies is always a losing formula.
JammieWearingFool on February 18, 2009 at 9:51 AM
Interestingly enough, the real Republicans in CA (not the RINO’s like Arnold) are fiscal conservatives that a real conservative can get behind. If only Tom McClintock had won that recall election…
OmahaConservative on February 18, 2009 at 9:52 AM
Suggestion: the Governator should initiate a bounty program. How much would California save if it offered $1,000 for the identity of every illegal alien identified, apprehended, and deported?
BuckeyeSam on February 18, 2009 at 9:53 AM
We need to watch California for it is a microcosm of the United States with 10% of our population. The fight between right and left that is going on there should be going on in Washington.
Ernest on February 18, 2009 at 9:55 AM
It’s not a 1% raising of the sales tax, it’s a 14% raising of the sles tax.
http://finance.yahoo.com/tech-ticker/article/176478/%22Worst-Is-Yet-to-Come%22-Americans'-Standard-of-Living-Permanently-Changed?tickers=WMT,WFMI,FDO,%5EGSPC,%5EDJI,RTH
RealDemocrat on February 18, 2009 at 9:55 AM
Some compromise – cut the effective growth of spending by a tiny percentage, then jack up taxes and borrowing by twice as much. Good for the state republicans, ala Tennessee, cut off the cancerous limbs and keep fighting.
Vashta.Nerada on February 18, 2009 at 9:55 AM
And you’re still an idiot.
thomasaur on February 18, 2009 at 9:55 AM
Back lash – the over reach of liberals.
Liberal ideas – are = “COMING HOME TO ROOST”
Back lash.
jake-the-goose on February 18, 2009 at 9:56 AM
Wow. Impressive!
CP on February 18, 2009 at 9:56 AM
Wow! I’m impressed the Repubs are finally standing up against tax increases and borrowing. Have they proposed an alternate plan? Should other GOP’rs send in the Red Cross to sustain them during their seige. Way to go GOP!
kringeesmom on February 18, 2009 at 9:57 AM
Raise taxes.
More companies leave.
Tax revenues fall.
Raise taxes.
Rinse, lather, repeat.
MarkTheGreat on February 18, 2009 at 9:57 AM
Heh.
I might have known the Los Angeles Times would miss this story entirely, and paint “cooperative” Republicans as brilliant, caring and sensible people ready to set aside partisanship to “save” the state.
CA is a microcosm of DC, which now is a one-party legislature.
Just as GM has to hit the wall to reorganize and dump the union arrangements bleeding it to death, so will state governments…the common denominator being unions who elect Democrats who spend every dime they can find and whatever they can borrow. It works until you run out of other people’s money, as CA has.
Harry Schell on February 18, 2009 at 9:57 AM
If you have no principles to stand on, you can’t stand…if your principles don’t guide your every action, then you have no principles.
genso on February 18, 2009 at 9:57 AM
E-Verify would work very well but the New Direction Democrats and some Republicans have stripped it from the “stimulus” plan…
RealDemocrat on February 18, 2009 at 9:57 AM
not
JiangxiDad on February 18, 2009 at 9:58 AM
Suddenly proud of my State Senate! Hang tough guys!
FireBlogger on February 18, 2009 at 9:58 AM
Huh????
MarkTheGreat on February 18, 2009 at 9:58 AM
You make a great point. Now if we could get some leaders who can go out there on the national stage and sell this we would have a chance at stopping this runaway train.
Conservative run states = healthy
Liberal run states = on life support (with massive transfusions from healthy states)
RadioFreeUSA on February 18, 2009 at 9:58 AM
NY and CA are two entirely different situations. We in NY are looking at a 40 billion dollar hole over 4 years…thats manageable, and we will manage. CA is much more irresponsible.
ernesto on February 18, 2009 at 9:58 AM
progressoverpeace on February 18, 2009 at 9:42 AM
Didn’t you get the memo? We already voted to end services to illegal immigrants in California, a LONG time ago. We just never realized such a thing was “unconstitutional.” Thank goodness the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is around to teach us such things… /s
thecountofincognito on February 18, 2009 at 9:58 AM
Jammie, exactly….. it’s standing up for your principles and the country as we know it should be…. and never worrying how we will look. One looks taller when they stand straight and lean forward with resolve, than slinking back and sticking out a weak hand to liberals.
MNDavenotPC on February 18, 2009 at 9:58 AM
Ed, love the Watership Down reference.
Oh, and go California Republicans! You rock!
Jim62sch on February 18, 2009 at 9:59 AM
There are Conservatives in California?!? Who knew?
AubieJon on February 18, 2009 at 10:00 AM
If a state finds itself in a position where it needs to cut state employees (mine has claimed the same if they don’t utilize their share of the porkulus bill-blech), then that tells me that state has too many freakin’ employees!!!!
My employer cut jobs last month…why can’t a state?
ladyingray on February 18, 2009 at 10:00 AM
The problem in California is that they don’t have the luxury of a printing press to solve all of their problems. They rely on taxing Californians for all of their money, so they have limits. The feds have no limits. They can print as much money as they have materials to make them.
Solution to cali: kick out socialists, cut taxes, deregulation, privatization, cut spending
1. get rid of the dems, election Libertarians or GOP that really are for free markets
2. eliminate property tax, cut all other taxes, definitely cut business taxes
3. deregulate all of the industries so that new companies can start without red tape and existing companies can operate more efficiently
4. privatize infrastructure to raise money
5. eliminate welfare
Libertarian Joseph on February 18, 2009 at 10:00 AM
Mike Steele looking for a speechwriter, anyone?
RepubChica on February 18, 2009 at 10:00 AM
I detect some spine in the GOP in the Golden State. Does Zombie Reagan truly live?
Flyover Country on February 18, 2009 at 10:01 AM
E-Verify
Kitty Pilgrim: …E- Verify is the single most effective government program to fight illegal immigration. Business special interest groups were successful in making sure the funding for the program was deleted from the so- called stimulus package and now E-Verify is set to expire next month. But supporters have not given up. [...]
Sen. Sessions: Now let me ask my colleague, is it the desire of the members of this body that the stimulus money to create jobs, that those jobs should be given to people illegally in the country?
Border Fence
Wian: Build it and they won’t come, at least not as many. That’s the idea behind 670 miles of new border fencing. The last stretches being completed east of El Paso, Texas.
[Mayor of El Paso complains]
Wian: The Border Patrol says additional fencing, more agents and better technology have reduced illegal alien apprehensions in El Paso from 122,000 in 2006 to just 30,000 last year. Drug seizures are also down. Both according to the Border Patrol indicate fewer illegal crossings. Still, some in Texas are suing to halt fence construction, including the city of El Paso.
RealDemocrat on February 18, 2009 at 10:02 AM
Does anyone else notice that when the subject of states that are poor examples comes up, California and Minnesota are always hand in hand?
I used to think Californians were, next to Minnesotans, the stupidest people in America….but I’m starting to think that both occupy the same spot.
csdeven on February 18, 2009 at 10:02 AM
That’s because the majority of people who vote for these idiots, don’t pay taxes.
The rest are so rich that even doubling of taxes won’t have much impact on their lifestyle.
MarkTheGreat on February 18, 2009 at 10:02 AM
There’s no question that the courts are about the biggest problem we have. At some point, the damage being done by the courts is going to have to be stopped by the executive branches just refusing to enforce the rulings. It’s ugly, but the courts have been overstepping their bounds for decades and they are contributing mightily to the destruction of our country.
progressoverpeace on February 18, 2009 at 10:03 AM
I wasn’t calling JWF an idiot.
thomasaur on February 18, 2009 at 10:03 AM
And who do we know who has lived in both??
JiangxiDad on February 18, 2009 at 10:04 AM
I’m still not moving back there.
Bishop on February 18, 2009 at 10:04 AM
And you are the one calling Palin stupid? Last time I checked your Governor wanted to tax sweet sodas? Remind me again about childish, simple political ideas?
ClassicCon on February 18, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Hope and change, see?
Shy Guy on February 18, 2009 at 10:05 AM
Should the California Republicans hold, the result is going to be yet another crack in The Messiah’s Greek Temple. Barry is not going to be able to lie out of both sides of his mouth to stem the tide of discontent – he’ll need to lie out of yet another orifice too. Three lies a second – that should work for a week or so until things really start to crumble.
Cinday Blackburn on February 18, 2009 at 10:06 AM
Slow clapping builds to thunderous applause -
You should go make a 60: spot out of that.
Maybe the RNC can run it in those dirty old crappy states….
America can do better. Do you want the same old tax & spend liberal
rheortic? Or do you want action? Action involves CUTTING waste.
Waste includes state & federal employees -
Waste includes UNIONS –
Waste includes politicians who want more pork –
Waste includes giving money to special interest groups -
Waste includes “stimulus” spending that does not stimulate –
STIMULATE the conservative movements in your state.
izoneguy on February 18, 2009 at 10:06 AM
I understood what you meant (the “useful idiots” are still idiots), but it did require a double-take. It happens to us all.
progressoverpeace on February 18, 2009 at 10:06 AM
We also firmly voted with the 2000 ballot initiative Proposition 22 to retain marriage between a man and a woman but that didn’t stop the courts from ignoring the will of the people forcing them to vote gay marriage down again with Prop 8.
OmahaConservative on February 18, 2009 at 10:06 AM
Hollingsworth is a good man, and I voted for McClintock too…guess that’s why Arnie doesn’t answer my email…..that and the fact that he’s a whipped social liberal who governs the way his wife (a Kennedy, btw) TELLS him to.
Vntnrse on February 18, 2009 at 10:07 AM
Why do Republicans only act like libertarians once they have no power? I just don’t get it. Power corrupts, I guess.
Libertarian Joseph on February 18, 2009 at 10:09 AM
Billions.
And the SEIU (remember them?) represents all Cali state employees, too.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 18, 2009 at 10:09 AM
sorry. had to read it a few times to understand what you meant.
JiangxiDad on February 18, 2009 at 10:10 AM
Why not just scrap marriage licensing and solve the problem? I mean, gheeze. The homosexuals will be back. Just end the issue
Libertarian Joseph on February 18, 2009 at 10:10 AM
On the topic of state Republicans, Montana’s lower house has just passed a bill effectively banning abortion
Chiasmos on February 18, 2009 at 10:10 AM
hahaha…Who?
csdeven on February 18, 2009 at 10:11 AM
Just the idea that government employees are unionized is one of the most insane, and outrageous, notions that I have ever heard in my life.
progressoverpeace on February 18, 2009 at 10:11 AM
It’s time for all good Republicans to take the advice of Howard Beale, in the 1976 clasic “Network.”
No party leadership, the country is going to hell, all the wrong leaders in power…
“All I know is that first you’ve got to get mad”
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074958/quotes
DamnYankee on February 18, 2009 at 10:12 AM
I’ve noticed most of my fellow Californians will vote for anything as long as the political spots advertise it as “for the kids.” They simply don’t think any further on the matter than “kids = good.” Its how so many ridiculous spending projects get passed, but it also worked for Prop 8. I think we just need to start pasting it on every conservative bill. Build the border fence – for the kids! E-verify – for the kids! Stop wasteful boondoggle projects like underground transit in earthquake zones – for the kids!
thecountofincognito on February 18, 2009 at 10:12 AM
Dear Friends: California is on the brink of having one of the GOP Senators break. A group of these courageous senate members have blocked package of a horrendous tax-increasing budget buster (a special state Porkulus package). Please write in support of them staying strong, and fighting bigger government. The main link to the California Senate Caucus is here: CSSRC!
One important note; you can’t effectively use web-mail if you aren’t a citizen of the district. I have taken the liberty of summarizing the effective fax numbers here:
Aanestad, Sam (4) – 916-445-5570
Ashburn, Roy (18) – 916-322-3304
Benoit, John J. (37) – 916-327-2187
Cogdill, Dave (14) 916-327-3523
Cox, Dave (1) 916-324-2680
Denham, Jeff (12) 916-445-0773
Dutton, Robert (31) ????
Harman, Tom (35) 916-445-9263
Hollingsworth, Dennis (36) 916-447-9008
Huff, Bob (29) 916-324-0922
Maldonado, Abel (15) ????
Runner, George (17) 916-445-4662
Strickland, Tony (19) 916-324-7544
Walters, Mimi (33) 916-335-9754
Wyland, Mark (38) 916-446-7382
It took me under an hour to print out a letter supporting their fight, telling them what I would do if the tax-and-spenders won (no GOP donation and we would leave the state), and faxing them all. Even if you don’t live in California, it is worth your time to fight the decay that is sure to spread if we lose this budget battle. Thanks, in advance, for fighting the good fight.
Mutnodjmet on February 18, 2009 at 10:12 AM
Kansas is the next state to go under…by a Democratic governor. They plan on not sending rrefunds too.
Judge Napoletano said it is unconstitutional to not send out tax refunds. If I lived in those states….I’d be filing suit….raising hell..something.
becki51758 on February 18, 2009 at 10:13 AM
/bow
And MadisonConservative said I’d never amount to anything but an Internet Warrior… /sarc
If we can get this message out we can sweep in like Reagan. It really just takes someone to tell the truth, hurt feelings but show the STARK, BOLD STROKE differences between the two parties, between Conservative views and Socialist radical agendas. Facts are facts, and the North and Northeast and Liberal Left Coast do not being called out, but the proof is in who has been in charge for decades.
Mark Garnett on February 18, 2009 at 10:15 AM
Let’s just say we might have uncovered a mole at the HA staff.
JiangxiDad on February 18, 2009 at 10:15 AM
Oh the irony that the conservative revival would start in the most moonbat of states.
angryed on February 18, 2009 at 10:15 AM
angryed on February 18, 2009 at 10:15 AM
Where better for a backlash than where the problems are the worst?
thecountofincognito on February 18, 2009 at 10:17 AM
Maybe they were pushed farthest fastest.
JiangxiDad on February 18, 2009 at 10:17 AM
A tax return is not a gift from the government. A tax return is exactly what the name implies, and that is the return of overpaid taxes to the payee. The tax payer has been kind enough to give the government an interest free loan for a year and this is how they are repaid? If the government can issue an IOU for money owed to citizens, then can citizens issue an IOU for tax money owed to the government? This practice will result in a tax revolt.
DFCtomm on February 18, 2009 at 10:17 AM
That’s precisely what I recommend. At the very least, the taxpayers of this country should update their W4s and increase their allowances. Make sure that taxes are underpaid. Then, when April 15 rolls around, file an extension. Starve the beast.
Vashta.Nerada on February 18, 2009 at 10:20 AM
Hmmm, imagine if the DC Repubs has done this just ONCE over domestic spending with Bush. Core principals matter, not everything should be up for negotiations, especially when they are alternatives no matter how hard they seem.
Rocks on February 18, 2009 at 10:20 AM
Well then, we will already have a lefty on staff to balance out HA when the commies pass the fairness doctrine for the internet.
haha
csdeven on February 18, 2009 at 10:21 AM
Ed, with all due respect, unless your using percentages, this is kinda moot. As you resided in SoCal, I’ve been up in NorCal after being born and raised in Sac. Pat Brown’s social welfare experiment in the 60′s has continued to present in so many forms, and as you all know, this state legislature has been dominated by the Democrats for decades.
Reagan was the last governor to be popular enough to over-ride the social spending pratices that have plagued this state and even while he did this, the liberals just hated him to pieces, but it was the last time this state ever came close to remaining lean and solvent. Only the temporary booms, (dot coms and housing), allowed the coffers to fill and still they spent it like there was no tomorrow. Schwarzenegger’s got no brains or a backbone to draw the line on taxes or spending and only the 2/3′s majority law on raising taxes has prevented the Dems from having this deal done. The billions spent on subsidising the welfare of undocumented workers is a big part of the problem, but it’s not going away until social policy is changed. It’s really a freakin’ mess and until Californian’s STOP THE SPENDING SPREE, and actually cut the waste out, these “temporary” tax increases that’s in this current bill will never be recinded even if it’s written in.
Rovin on February 18, 2009 at 10:21 AM
Great. I complained the other day about the msm playing a clip where some donk is begging the gop to allow taxes to be raised just this once. Bull. Stop spending. All the effin do is spin and there is nothing to show for it. The infrastructure is falling apart. Screw the schools. They are 100x better than ones in Mexico, so shut up. We invited half of mexico to come here and live illegally and they wonder why the schools are in the toilet.
Blake on February 18, 2009 at 10:21 AM
Not really….California produced Reagan.
Rocks on February 18, 2009 at 10:21 AM
godspeed CalGOP!
liquidflorian on February 18, 2009 at 10:21 AM
The WAR has started .Our troops in Calf. are far out number but are holding ground.There are about 20 states so far that are banding togeather to take back states right.More coming soon.We will hold out here as long as we can.Remember troops do not loose hope because in our darkest hour we are at our best.
thmcbb on February 18, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Axelrod will be on the phone to Maria and Arnie will raise the white flag.
Limerick on February 18, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Glad that someone somewhere had the testicular fortitude :)
peter_griffin on February 18, 2009 at 10:24 AM
As a native of CA this makes my heart sing. It is about damn time!!!!!
THROW OUT ILLEGALS NOW!!!!!!!
Winebabe on February 18, 2009 at 10:24 AM
Before everyone gets too excited…
In Nevada there is a constitutional amendment that says any tax increase needs 2/3 majorities in both the state senate and assembly.
In 2003, the senate fell 1 vote short to increase taxes by $1B. Now keep in mind this is Nevada, which has 1/10th the population of California, so $1B is a hell of a lot of money.
Well the Democrats took the issue to the state supreme court. And the court said, meh, what’s a constitutional amendment mean anyway? And they temporarily suspended the requirement.
Reason given was – anyone, anyone take a guess – the children. For you see, without the $1B extra, little Jose and Juan and Hector couldn’t get proper education funding and that was a big no-no.
And given the fact this is California, it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if that court pulls the same crap tells the GOP to go to hell.
angryed on February 18, 2009 at 10:25 AM
On first reading, I thought you were. It took a second reading to realize you weren’t.
MarkTheGreat on February 18, 2009 at 10:25 AM
I couldn’t agree more. Public service unions are quite simply extortion of the public. Seriously, it should be illegal.
Count to 10 on February 18, 2009 at 10:26 AM
Yeah 40 years ago when California wasn’t 50% illegal alien. Not exactly comparing apples to apples.
angryed on February 18, 2009 at 10:26 AM
We still need to be vigilant there are about 3 or 4 RINO’s left that could still sell all of California out to the socialist majority in the state assembly.
Kjeil on February 18, 2009 at 10:27 AM
Look, you have to actualy CUT spending… As Rush has pointed out many, many times, when the Congress talks about CUTTING spending, what they actualy “mean” is cuts in the amount of INCREASE!!!
Most programs State and Federal, heck even locally, have BUILT IN increases each year… 2%, 3%, 5% INCREASES… So California keeps spending more and more and more and even when they do “CUT” spending they reduce the % to 1 or 2 instead of 5%… So it’s STILL an INCREASE called a CUT!
Lies, lies and more lies…
Drastic deep CUTS in actual spending, job cuts, closing entire wastful programs, redundant programs eliminated. Welfare cuts, work or get out!~
Mark Garnett on February 18, 2009 at 10:28 AM
I knew that I should have added that disclaimer with the original post. : -/
thomasaur on February 18, 2009 at 10:28 AM
There are a few middle class Conservatives in CA. We’re just too outnumbered to make much of a difference, and when we do put in some kind of initiative that might do some good, the courts tell us we’re idiots, and don’t know what we’re doing.
I hope the Republicans hold firm. We’re already being taxed out of our socks, and if they raise taxes again, it will just accelerate the loss of businesses and jobs.
Liberals are parasites. They get in charge and then proceed to destroy their hosts, but they never seem to realize that their parasitism is the problem. Now that they are in charge here in the US, I wonder how many other countries that depend on us to keep their economies afloat (because they can’t) are going to go down the tubes as well. It would be funny if it wasn’t so scary.
hachiban on February 18, 2009 at 10:28 AM
While you may be correct in many ways with this statement angry, I might remind you that if you ever looked at both Bush election results, (county by county), this state was dominated by Conservatives. The “moonbats” unfortunately reside in the Bay Area and LA which make up the majority population. This doesn’t make them any more intelligent—-just massive idiots in my opinion.
Rovin on February 18, 2009 at 10:29 AM
I believe Limbaugh said she is on the short list for the next try at Sec of Commerce. Really!
a capella on February 18, 2009 at 10:30 AM
About time the GOP here grew a set of balls. How about cutting off those ‘advisory commissions’, safe havens for termed out politicians? How about outlawing the University system from giving mortgages of 3-4% to faculty members? The legislature spent like drunken sailors on liberty. Now they can enjoy the hangover.
GarandFan on February 18, 2009 at 10:30 AM
You still have to pay estimated taxes when you file the extension. The only thing the extension does is give you extra time to get the paperwork in.
If your estimate is less than taxes owed by too much, you will be charged a penatly. You will also be charged interest on the amount of the underpayment.
MarkTheGreat on February 18, 2009 at 10:30 AM
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