Game. Set. Match. State Senate Leader Darrell Steinberg has found a way to help State Senator Lou Correa make up his mind about his vote on the proposed state budget. Steinberg has included in the budget, “a measure to give Orange County an extra slice of the state budget pie,” according to the Sacramento Bee.
State Senate Republican leader Dave Cogdill said that “for any Republicans to cast votes for the package – and three are needed to give it the 27-vote two-thirds majority it needs – all Democrats will have to vote aye.”
“Capitol sources, who asked not to be named while commenting on private negotiations, said language had been inserted in the massive 33-bill package that would give Orange County $35 million in additional property tax revenues in the coming fiscal year; $35 million in the 2010-11 fiscal year, and up to $50 million annually after that.”
So there you go. Correa now has $120 million reasons to vote for this budget. The Republicans will come after him in 2010, but while he will have broken his pledge not to vote for new taxes, he will be able to assuage the voters by pointing to the massive influx of money from the state to the County, due to his efforts.
Correa will also be able to say that the Republican State Senate Leader insisted on his vote.
I don’t expect Correa to suddenly become vulnerable in 2010. Democrats have a lock on central Orange County and the OC GOP has no one to run against Correa. What are they going to do, recruit lame Santa Ana Councilman Carlos Bustamante as their standard bearer? I don’t think so.
We will find out tomorrow if Steinberg has given Correa enough reasons to vote yes. I think he has. I may not like this budget, but it will be set in stone by Monday.
I hope Lou doesn’t vote for this Budget Abomination. He will be re-elected. But after that?
Tax increases will make the state economy, and the state budget, implode even faster. Those who voted for it will get blamed.
This is a new Great Depression and government will have to be cut. Higher tax RATES will NOT bring higher tax REVENUES, but will kill businesses and jobs and so bring LOWER revenues.
And a tax revolt is brewing.
If Lou votes for this Budget Abomination, perhaps as a reward he will get a bit part in Arnold’s next movie, “Terminator 5: Bankruptcy Day.”
I hope Sen.Correa honor his pledge “no taxes”! and do not fall in this game of rip off Californians in order for sacramento “pigs” keeping expending tax payer’s money irresposably.
Pay to play, the crooks in Sa creap mento offer to buy OC state senator.
If the governor of Il can be impeached for pay to play, the top gov officals in Sac should be too.
Strip them, tar and feather, run out of town on a rail.