Democrats now hold supermajority in California legislature: What could go wrong?
The ascendance of Democrats and their union backers may give more than a little pause to businesses and wealthy individuals, who now face higher taxes and the prospect of even more new taxes and regulations.
The state’s top personal income tax rate was already the second highest in the nation at 10.3 percent before Tuesday’s vote, and will now rise to 13.3 percent for the next seven years.
“Enabling the tax-and-spend majority in the capital to have carte blanche to heap new and unanticipated taxes on already struggling Californians gives us extraordinary concern,” said John Kabateck, California executive director of the National Federation of Independent Businesses.
Brown was quick to acknowledge the need for restraint. The former seminarian cited the Biblical story of Joseph and the pharaoh at a news conference Wednesday, in which Joseph told the pharaoh to prepare for lean years in times of plenty.
Blowback
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Let it burn.
the_nile on November 9, 2012 at 4:46 PM
I think this is an example that we can more readily agree to be happy that the people will get what they want.
Except those reading from CA, Sorry, folks.
HitNRun on November 9, 2012 at 4:47 PM
bully for them.
rob verdi on November 9, 2012 at 4:48 PM
Mecha-fornia
Oil Can on November 9, 2012 at 4:50 PM
Ha!!!!! CA, first state to reach Utopia.
antipc on November 9, 2012 at 4:52 PM
Boeing just closed all plant locations in California…
… Democrats can’t imagine why.
Seven Percent Solution on November 9, 2012 at 4:52 PM
Monorail!
forest on November 9, 2012 at 4:55 PM
Burn baby, burn!
squint on November 9, 2012 at 4:57 PM
The best advantage of amnesty is that we get to see California burn faster.
ninjapirate on November 9, 2012 at 4:58 PM
I’m in California. Basically it means Democrats are free to raise any taxes they want.
We’ve held property taxes down for decades due to prop 13… Democrats will probably repeal it.
El_Terrible on November 9, 2012 at 4:58 PM
I live in California and I think it’s great. Let them own this b!tch.
Mark1971 on November 9, 2012 at 4:59 PM
Breaking News in CA….
The Bear on the State flag has been replaced by Gaia.
PS you no longer can build a house larger than 3,000 square feet and must be powered by solar or wind. Green grass has been band. Volts are the only car sold in CA. All farms animals have been band, it’s vegan only state.
Oil Can on November 9, 2012 at 5:00 PM
I think LA is giving illegal aliens IDs… I think its curious that Jerry Brown hasn’t given them out already.
El_Terrible on November 9, 2012 at 5:01 PM
Go for broke. Tax and spend yourselves to utopia!
tom daschle concerned on November 9, 2012 at 5:01 PM
Build a fence around Texas, and THEN let CA burn. We don’t need more of them moving here and screwing up our success. Exceptions are to be made for the many sane conservatives who live there but need to flee.
And–NO BAILOUT!!!
juliesa on November 9, 2012 at 5:03 PM
I’m freaking out about the global warming tax. Did you see where Valero was to sell their CA operations? If they can’t find a buyer (China) they will probably shutdown and they make 10% of the gas. It’s $4.00 and they want to sell their operations…something really bad is coming.
Oil Can on November 9, 2012 at 5:04 PM
We are so fu<ked. I'm putting our family up for adoption.
antipc on November 9, 2012 at 5:08 PM
AMEN to that! We’re getting “Californicated” by refugees from the Land of Fruits and Nuts that are running away from Cali’s madness—then they vote the same way HERE!! So they’re just spreading their filth over here rather than learn their lesson! That ticks me off!
squint on November 9, 2012 at 5:08 PM
Wow, that would be huge, especially if they had to shut them down. We don’t build new refineries in the US anymore, so they wouldn’t be replaced. Valero’s HQ is in my city, and is reportedly a very good company to work for.
juliesa on November 9, 2012 at 5:09 PM
Here comes another wave of Californian’s to other states…
right2bright on November 9, 2012 at 5:11 PM
They need more light rail systems, more immigrants, and more socialized medicine – according to Obama that is what fixes the economy!
WisCon on November 9, 2012 at 5:13 PM
California needs single payer healthcare too. I recall that the Dems passed it but Arnold vetoed it. They should pass it now.
El_Terrible on November 9, 2012 at 5:16 PM
You know what causes that “extreme” partisanship and one-party rule in my state?
An uninterrupted gusher of taxpayer money to fund Dem campaigns. First the Dems give it to state employees, then the State deduct it from their paychecks and give it back to the Dems.
I know. I worked there!
PattyJ on November 9, 2012 at 5:17 PM
You know, oddly I’m getting kinda optimistic about our chances in California. The state is essentially destroying itself, and sooner or later its going to be ripe for a re-alignment.
We just need the right candidate and the right tactic. If we can even get 40% of the Hispanic vote there we’d stand an excellent chance of picking up the state in an election year. Fifty percent and it’d be all over, but that might be asking for too much.
In 2008 Obama only got 60% of the Hispanic vote nationally, so breaking off 40% in California should be doable. Again, we’d need the right candidate, right message, and we’d need to start voter outreach now.
WolvenOne on November 9, 2012 at 5:17 PM
Mark, come to Vegas. Still close enough to visit friends and no state income tax.
-PrepperMark (formerly SailorMark)
SailorMark on November 9, 2012 at 5:18 PM
A family member of mine has a wife that “ran away” from California’s insanity. During the election, she and her gaggle of gal pals were very pro-Obama, and constantly posted on Facebook: “Let’s turn Texas blue!!”
This is what we face in liberals: idiots that never learn.
squint on November 9, 2012 at 5:18 PM
All conservatives are leaving in droves. Thats why this state is going down the craper. Unfortunately my job has me stuck in this hell hole.
I think the RNC has officially abandon California because the Republican Party is non-existent here.
BJ on November 9, 2012 at 5:21 PM
California?
They can’t suffer enough. New York is next.
I’ll stay here in my deep red town and deep red state, and point and laugh.
Stop moving here, too. We don’t need any more people escaping the Northeast. You voted for your hell. It’s yours.
Moesart on November 9, 2012 at 5:21 PM
I know. I’m totally moving there after it falls. Getting a place on the beach. (Working on my espanol.)
-PrepperMark (formerly SailorMark)
SailorMark on November 9, 2012 at 5:21 PM
40% of Latino vote will not flip CA.
El_Terrible on November 9, 2012 at 5:22 PM
Antonio Villaraigosa wants to be governor, so Democrats are set for 12 years.
El_Terrible on November 9, 2012 at 5:22 PM
It’s interesting to watch these far left states fail one by one.
No state income tax here. State budget balanced. That’s what happens when liberals are not in charge.
Moesart on November 9, 2012 at 5:23 PM
See, that won’t work. You can tell them, but they still come. That’s what happened to NV. That’s why I’m moving to CA after the fall. We’re going to invade them.
-PrepperMark (formerly SailorMark)
SailorMark on November 9, 2012 at 5:24 PM
Between the Califonia fools rushing to spread their liberal filth to our north and east, the open borders hemmoraging faithful Democrats to our south, and the liberal enclave cities, like Austin; I’m not sure even Texas can stand against the rising tide of stupid for very much longer.
squint on November 9, 2012 at 5:34 PM
Hey, they don’t call us the worlds largest outdoor lunatic asylum for nothing.
antipc on November 9, 2012 at 5:35 PM
Err…except Nevada just elected a supermajority of Democrats to its legislature too….
Nessuno on November 9, 2012 at 5:35 PM
D’oh! Well, I hear Norway’s got a decent prison system……
SailorMark on November 9, 2012 at 5:40 PM
Link
SailorMark on November 9, 2012 at 5:42 PM
We might not be able to afford all his illegimate babies. Rumor is that he is knocking up his own staff in LA.
Oil Can on November 9, 2012 at 5:50 PM
This will be fun to watch.
AUINSC on November 9, 2012 at 6:00 PM
The dems just fell short in both houses for a supermajority. But the rend in NV is unmistakable and at some point it will become like Cali unless we get Hispanics on our side. TX and FL are safe from state income taxes.
IR-MN on November 9, 2012 at 6:02 PM
Times of plenty?!? What times are those? They certainly aren’t now. I’m thinking your times of plenty ended about a decade ago, CA. If Brown thinks these are the times of plenty, they are right and truly screwed.
I’ve got several freinds in CA, and most are staunchly liberal. Haven’t talked to them recently, but I’m sure they are absolutely giddy at the level of Democrat control. I hate to be a colossal prick, but I’m looking forward to the first hint of complaining about the inevitable problems to come that can be directly linked to politics. It will be kinda fun to cut them off in mid-complaint and tell them that this is what they voted for, so shut up and take it.
djm1992 on November 9, 2012 at 6:12 PM
Like all ridiculous economic fantasy that liberals engage in, Prop 30 is no different.
Between the extra taxes and the new green regulations we will see less economic activity than we did last year. Less activity means less revenue. We just voted to soak the people with taxes that will not do a single thing to align the state’s spending vs. its revenue.
Economics 101.
Of course the 1/3 of welfare recipients that live in California probably don’t care. Actually they probably lack the education to realize it in the first place.
So between the great welfare state and their prudent, frugal overseers we have successfully ignored reality like a mass hallucination. The deficits will continue only the borrowing will get more expensive until those great knowledgeable representatives have no choice but to cut spending and services. I’m sure public pensions will be the last thing they touch too.
But march on, Truth to Power…err whatever.
hisfrogness on November 9, 2012 at 6:24 PM
Define wrong.
It will be more of the same…
CorporatePiggy on November 9, 2012 at 6:55 PM
NOTHING WILL GO WRONG!
CALIFORNIA AND ILLINOIS WILL BE BAILED OUT BY THE REST OF US!
Californian’s are the smart ones. You fly over dmass’s are going to pay for their party. Jokes On YOU, SUCKERS!
BoxHead1 on November 9, 2012 at 7:13 PM
Pretty soon Mexico wont take them back because they are so liberal.
meci on November 9, 2012 at 7:17 PM