Assembly Member and Attorney General candidate Alberto Torrico has come up with the best advice on dealing with the Republican anti-tax zealots who are threatening to shut down the state unless the Legislature passes a draconian "cuts-only" budget.
Democrats are unwilling to go past June 30th or July 15th or August 1st with a complete closure of state government. We are unwilling to do that, so we basically go in and negotiate with our hands behind our back.
We should be willing to go and demonstrate to people there are consequences to not saying to corporations we are going to eliminate some loopholes. You know when people will care? When schools go back to session in August and when Democrats and Republicans hear from their constituents, from middle-class families in phone calls like this, 'Where's my son's bus?'
Back in 1995, Speaker Newt Gingrich and the Republicans in Congress threatened to shut down the federal government unless President Clinton bowed to their demands. Clinton responded, in effect: "Go ahead, make my day."
So the Republicans shut down the government. After two days, the public's outrage was so great that they ended the shutdown and caved. I'll bet the same thing will happen here.
Torrico is right on target. Let's call their bluff.
