California Budget Gridlock: Here are the Senators responsible for Gridlock.
First a little brief background. California is unlike the Federal government in that it must balance its budget but in order to do that it takes a 2/3rd approval rate, not the usual 50% majority other States have as a requirement. California has 40 State Senators. Currently, there are 25 Democrats and 15 Republicans. That would mean in order to pass the proposed budget we need 27 votes. Now with the Democrats holding only 24 seats, they need 3 Republicans to approve the Budget. They can get only 2 Republicans to vote for the proposed budget, which is a mix of Cuts in spending and tax increases. The Senate has been working on this problem a good 6 months to a year.
So here we are with a few stubborn Republicans who have helped create this mess in the first place, blocking all action to get the measure passed. The Republicans don't want a single tax increased and that is their position period. Here is a list of the Republican Senators who have caused this mess:
Name
Walters
Hollingsworth
Denham
Benoit
Huff
Ashburn
Aanestad
Strickland
Maldonado
Runner
Wyland
Cox
Harman
Dutton
COGDILL
Now the Republican leader Sen. Dave Cogdill had voted for the budget in the spirit of compromise, but now faces his own party as the Republicans ousted him from his leadership position for voting in favor of the proposed budget. Sen Abel Maldonado of Santa Maria), voted against the taxes this morning but has stated publicly that he might support them if various government reforms were added to the package. He was sharply critical of his caucus for removing Cogdill. GOP Sen. Roy Ashburn of Bakersfield has agreed to vote for the package, according to legislative officials.
The GOP's only Latino senator, Maldonado, like Adams, represents a swing district and voted for the state budget in 2007.
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.
So we are in a mess and only some reasonable Republican Senators hold the key to getting us out of this mess. California is a beautiful state to live in from nature's perspective, but from some of the people that live here it is one of the worst states. And I say that having lived in Massachusetts for 25 years or should I call it Taxachusetts like the locals do.
Many want to blame Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger but I think he has done his best to get his Party to join the Democrats. It's just that they are all stubborn and in my view should resign as they are failing to keep their oath to the people of the State. They have done everything they can to be obstructionists and don't deserve the seats they occupy.
UPDATE: Feb. 19th
I corrected the list of names above to reflect the State Senators instead of what I had listed, the Assembly. Thanks to the comments from those making them.
So here we are with a few stubborn Republicans who have helped create this mess in the first place, blocking all action to get the measure passed. The Republicans don't want a single tax increased and that is their position period. Here is a list of the Republican Senators who have caused this mess:
Name
Walters
Hollingsworth
Denham
Benoit
Huff
Ashburn
Aanestad
Strickland
Maldonado
Runner
Wyland
Cox
Harman
Dutton
COGDILL
Now the Republican leader Sen. Dave Cogdill had voted for the budget in the spirit of compromise, but now faces his own party as the Republicans ousted him from his leadership position for voting in favor of the proposed budget. Sen Abel Maldonado of Santa Maria), voted against the taxes this morning but has stated publicly that he might support them if various government reforms were added to the package. He was sharply critical of his caucus for removing Cogdill. GOP Sen. Roy Ashburn of Bakersfield has agreed to vote for the package, according to legislative officials.
The GOP's only Latino senator, Maldonado, like Adams, represents a swing district and voted for the state budget in 2007.
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.
So we are in a mess and only some reasonable Republican Senators hold the key to getting us out of this mess. California is a beautiful state to live in from nature's perspective, but from some of the people that live here it is one of the worst states. And I say that having lived in Massachusetts for 25 years or should I call it Taxachusetts like the locals do.
Many want to blame Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger but I think he has done his best to get his Party to join the Democrats. It's just that they are all stubborn and in my view should resign as they are failing to keep their oath to the people of the State. They have done everything they can to be obstructionists and don't deserve the seats they occupy.
UPDATE: Feb. 19th
I corrected the list of names above to reflect the State Senators instead of what I had listed, the Assembly. Thanks to the comments from those making them.
Labels: Budget crisis, California, Massachusetts, Republican party, Republican State Senators
posted by Charles Amico at 8:32 AM
4 Comments:
Not a single person on your list is a state Senator.
1. There are only 40 Senators in California.
2. The list of Senators you have are actually Assemblymenbers.
3. You have so many facts messed up in this post I could go on for days.
My Bad. Copied from the wrong list of people. But you still get the point. The point is that Republicans here and in other States won't allow the government to function unless it is the way they want it be. Glad at least you stopped by to correct me. It still is appreciated. Would you feel better if I put the correct names here, as it still makes the point doesn't it?
ps. Tonight I also read that Republican Governors may refuse the Stimulus money for their own States, as it is an ideological point they want to make while apparently they are even willing to allow citizens in their States to do without a stimulus to help schools, community shovel ready infrastructure projects and other benefits. Well we will see if they are really willing to snub their citizens. Heck, we won't have to worry about a 2 Party system next election as the Republicans will self implode. The States referenced are the usual suspects: Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Alaska, South Carolina and the one exception, Idaho.
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