Having waited 52 days to see a budget passed by the legislature what changes were made to persuade Republicans to now sign on? The 27-12 final Senate vote was a squeaker. What were the major sticking points that led to this impasse? What did the Republicans who crossed over the aisle get that enabled them to now sign on?
Personally, as a registered Republican, I think we let the majority party off the hook. Instead of them shaving the $700 million dollars as promised by Governor Schwarzenegger, I would have preferred them submitting a balanced budget with cuts to take it out of the red ink. What were Democrats willing to cut to make that happen? They are now off the hook as any cuts by the Governor using his veto powers will be blamed on Republicans.
The big loser is Attorney General Jerry Brown who is posturing for another chance to serve as governor. He was making global warming the cornerstone of his platform and was filing lawsuits against San Bernardino County. The issue relates to a suspension of CEQA and AB 32. His action would have exposed Bond money designated for levee’s and roads to litigation expenditures.
Last weeks San Jose Mercury reported that “Senate Republican leader Dick Ackerman of Tustin argues it’s Brown’s actions that are outrageous.
“If the attorney general’s efforts are successful,” Ackerman said, “millions of taxpayer dollars intended for roads, schools, parks and clean water projects will instead be spent on studies, consultants, reports and litigation.”
The mess is such that Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is reportedly in negotiations with lawmakers and Brown to try to resolve the matter. So far, no one appears to be budging.
“This puts Schwarzenegger in a difficult position,” said Melissa Michelson, a political science professor at California State University-East Bay. “Backing other Republicans in their opposition to the lawsuits will further injure his already shaky `green’ credentials.”
“This puts Schwarzenegger in a difficult position,” said Melissa Michelson, a political science professor at California State University-East Bay. “Backing other Republicans in their opposition to the lawsuits will further injure his already shaky `green’ credentials.”
Business groups said Brown has challenged projects outside San Bernardino on the basis that applicants haven’t adequately explained how they will deal with greenhouse-gas emissions.
“Californians want to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions,” said Dorothy Rothrock of the California Manufacturers and Technology Association, “but they also recognize the critical need to repair our state’s aging public infrastructure and create jobs.”
“Californians want to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions,” said Dorothy Rothrock of the California Manufacturers and Technology Association, “but they also recognize the critical need to repair our state’s aging public infrastructure and create jobs.”
Later this week Arnold will sharpen his knife and make some unspecified cuts. Bills will be paid and life as we know it will go on.
What are your thoughts about this delayed approval?
Are there winners and losers? If so, please elaborate.
Do you support retaining the 2/3rds rule?
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