Jerry Brown has said all along that he could meet the deadline he set up for himself, March 10. In case you aren’t looking at your calendar right now, that’s this Thursday. Inn furtherance of that goal, he recently met with a group of Republican legislators to discuss possible compromises. It didn’t go well. In fact, it went so poorly that they even wrote a nasty letter saying as much.
Gov. Jerry Brown in budget talks said today that they have reached an impasse.
“We accepted your invitation to bring you our ideas on important structural reforms and willingly took to heart your admonition ‘to get out of our comfort zone,’ the senators said in a letter to the Democratic governor. “Although it is clear that you engaged in our conversations seriously, it appears we have reached an impasse in our discussions about how to move the state forward.”
The letter may explain Brown’s glum attitude at an appearance this morning, where he said he does not yet have the Republican support to put his tax extension measure on the ballot and may not meet his Thursday budget deadline. (SacBee)
Brown has now admitted that his timeline might not be realistic at this point, and that seems like quite the understatement. Despite everything that he’s done to bring this to some sort of ridiculous austerity budget, we are really no closer to where we were on the day of his inauguration.
An impasse indeed.
Catch the letter over the flip.
I love the way the GOP refuses to let voters have our say on tax increases, but are trying to get through the spending cap we already rejected with their usual extortionate tricks.
I also suspect that “increased fairness” translates pretty directly to more tax cuts for our rich friends and donors.
So I’m glad to hear the governor has rejected this crap. I’d be happier still if he’d push harder on revenue increases.
I love the way the GOP refuses to let voters have our say on tax increases, but is trying to get through the spending cap we already rejected with their usual extortionate tricks.
I also suspect that “improved fairness” translates pretty directly to “more tax cuts for our rich friends and donors.”
And despite polls that show Americans nationwide aren’t happy with breaking legal contracts with public workers and union busting, here’s the California GOP pretending like they never heard this, and this is a good way to reduce the deficit.
So I’m glad to hear the governor has rejected this crap. I’d be happier still if he’d push harder on revenue increases.
I say put all these up for a vote on the ballot and make sure none are linked to any other item including the extended taxes that Governor Brown wants, Put these on the ballot, separately, Let the voters decide once and for all, No Guts, No Glory.
Here are some of the demands that GOP lawmakers have presented to Gov. Jerry Brown as part of budget negotiations:
• Adopt hard spending cap, with surplus in good economic years to be used only for education, infrastructure and debt service.
• Require public employees to make higher health and pension contributions; adopt federal hybrid pension system with 401(k), Social Security and small defined-benefit pension.
• Education: Overhaul teacher seniority and tenure rules, adopt merit pay, broaden school choice.
• Increase contracting for state projects; base state worker raises and promotions on merit.
• Preserve redevelopment agencies and enterprise zones.
Frankly, “the voters” have actually created the mess we’re in with the completely dysfunctional, broken down and rusting initiative process we have in this state.
With over 500 amendments to the California Constitution, many of those creating program mandates that carve out bits and pieces of the budget with “the voters” having NO CLUE on the true, long-term fiscal impacts to the programs they appear to value most both statewide and locally (education, parks, police, fire, etc), it’s no wonder we have such a screwed up budget.
Don’t get me wrong, I value voter involvement, but I abhor the buying and mind-warping marketing of these initiatives by corporate interests…particularly those from OUT of the state. The majority of voters don’t have or take the time to really study, nor is enough information on long-term impacts really or readily available, to make a well-informed decision.
Then it’s the maddening circle of initiatives to battle other initiatives!
That being said, I also see the mantras of “take it to the voters” versus the “we have a representative system of government” used by the same party only when it benefits the strategy of the issue…grrr. And back to this particular tax issue, the Repubs see themselves as “representatives” that are there to make the decision because that’s what the vote was for. See, the CA legislation majority supported marriage equality, but “the voters” sure had to speak up in that one, didn’t they? >:|
Full disclosure…I don’t like Brown’s budget. I’m one of those public employees that everyone’s loving to hate these days. I do believe there is a lot of room for improvements and efficiencies that could offer some substantial cost savings. But there are many things he’s proposing to cut, abolish or shift to local responsibility with the seemingly laughable suggestion that the money will follow the mandate. I also completely and vehemently disagree with the Republican mantra of “no new taxes”. There is a LOT of room for new revenue sources and taxes that would help ease the need for cuts. But they’ve been so bought and paid for by corporate and the ever expanding “haves” part of society that their hands are so far up their backside asking for more money that the sphincters have them handcuffed.
Grrrrr…the more I rant, the more angry I get and the less coherent I feel…I typically debate relatively well, but not now…must depart.
I love my state…but it sure not showing the love back.
On one hand, my heart goes out to the poor that really need help in our state and I am very troubled that those citizens with the smallest voices seem to be the least represented in this whole budget debate.
On the other hand, California politicians from both parties have squandered our state treasures on special interest priorities and well meaning but mismanaged programs to the point that has to be called gross incomptence. I don’t trust anything that anyone from either party says about anything and I am not going to vote to hand them one single extra dollar. I suspect I am not alone in that feeling.
This gridlock and the forthcoming cuts and inevitable protests are going to make for some seriously entertaining times. Long live Jerry Brown!
If Republicans do block Brown’s tax extensions
Democrats should circulate petitions asking for:
– an oil severence tax
– for a higher tax bracket on high wage earners
– to end tax loop holes for corporations
Hopefully that’ll be done in time for the November 2012 election
We’ll have a bigger turnout in November
(though Obama is doing his best to dampen Democratic enthusiasm)
Depending on Republicans to be reasonable is folly
It’s a recipe for failure
after brown giving a prime time address to the people of california explaining that the GOP is refusing to fund schools, fire departments, police, etc., and has prevented a revenue bill to go to the people. explain that democrats swept the election on their promise to make hard choices and fix the deficit with a mix of cuts and taxes, and that the GOP refused to get the message from the voters that the people are tired of them obstructing budgets.
and then use whatever emergency method you’ve got, or else collect signatures in a labor-chamber of commerce coalition. getting labor and chamber representatives standing behind brown as he gives the address would not be a bad idea.
it is clear they are not working in good faith. it is time for brown to go to plan B.