We can't even get the Yacht Loophole Fixed?

Update: Yacht Tax Passed the Senate (0.00 / 0)

so the bill comes back to the Assembly on Tuesday, where Speaker Nunez will bring it back for a vote.

It is a two-thirds vote bill, not a majority vote.

You might want to print the phone numbers of the Republicans who voted against it (20) or profiles in courage -- like Bonnie Garcia and Shirley Horton (both in Dem-leaning districts), Roger Niello of Sacramento, Senate candidate Greg Aghazarian of Stockton, and Todd Spitzer and Van Tran of Orange County -- who were on the floor but "took a walk."

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by: sacguy @ Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 19:58:46 PM UTC

Right (0.00 / 0)

because the expectation of Dems doing the right thing and Republicans doing the right thing should be EXACTLY the same, and Calitics should be doing the anti-Republican work of the Dem establishment. Curse Calitics for not toeing the party line more closely.

Although, come to think of it, after the "Fuck You, Progressive Caucus" post on CMR, it's pretty clear that we shouldn't really expect better from at lease some Dems.  But even if one thinks of politics in a strictly team-jersey sort of way, one would expect the Dem leadership (and frankly, the party) to carry the laboring oar in attacking the Republicans' pro-wealthy policies -- the Republicans wear a different jersey, after all, so there's no policy conflict there.  

One also wonders why the Speaker can't get his caucus under control for something as basic as repealing a tax loophole for frickin' YACHTS, which are icons of conspicuous consumption.

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by: jsw @ Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 20:14:44 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

You take the cake (0.00 / 0)

for not knowing what you're talking about.

EVERY Democrat in Sacramento that was here voted for it. Only five Republicans voted for it.

The Speaker has the Caucus under control. Maybe you should try to get your obscene-laced posts under control as well.

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by: sacguy @ Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 20:27:30 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Well, with the addition of Mr. Calderon (0.00 / 0)

and the possible addition of Mr. Price if he returns to Sacramento, I withdraw the caucus-wrangling statement.  Of course, if you had just led with "let me check into that" and provided something informative first, instead of demanding that Calitics toe your party line, that might have been helpful.

As far as my obscene-laced [sic] post, sorry you don't like the anglo-saxon, but I think it accurately describes the statement about and attitude toward the Progressive Caucus in CMR's January In/Out year-end summary.

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by: jsw @ Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 20:37:24 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

What are you talking about? (0.00 / 0)

I never was "demanding that Calitics toe your party line."

Too bad you can't find other adjectives before descending into obsenities.

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by: sacguy @ Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 20:51:56 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

You keep harping on one use of a "dirty" word (0.00 / 0)

It's a good tactic, I guess -- if you keep complaining that I used a dirty word (oh, no!  not a dirty word! oh, my stars and garters!), maybe you won't have to address the substance of the criticism of your attack on and ridicule of the Progressive Caucus of the California Democratic Party?  Are you ever going to apologize to those members of the CDP you mocked?  Or are you going to keep clutching your pearls in feigned shock in order to avoid it?

And for the record, it's "obscenity-laced" (though I'm hard pressed to see how one use of the word "fuck" constitutes "laced", and it's "obscene".  Also, the use of the word "fuck" in my comment was as a verb, not an adjective.

If you're going to go all schoolmarm in order to dodge a critique, it's good to get the schoomarmery right.  

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by: jsw @ Sat Feb 16, 2008 at 03:47:00 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Further Update (0.00 / 0)

Mr. Calderon added on as a "yes" (he was off the floor). Mr. Price was not in Sacramento.

Several Republicans added on (Horton, Agazarian, Garcia), which makes 5.

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by: sacguy @ Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 20:25:43 PM UTC

So where are we at, exactly, on this? (0.00 / 0)

They really are unbelievable to go out of their way over a tax on yachts.  Yachts.  I mean it's perfect.  The ads should be up tomorrow.

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by: David Dayen @ Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 20:45:38 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

The Assembly Will Take Up the Senate Version of the Yacht Tax Closure Bill on Tuesday (8.00 / 1)

It needs 54 votes. We're almost there.

Democrats Price, Dymally, and Lieu are expected to be in Sacramento on Tuesday. That gets us to 52 votes.

Assemblymember Maze of Tulare County(R) voted FOR closure of the yacht tax in Budget Committee but against it on the floor, so perhaps he can do another 180 degree turn and vote for it.

Assemblymember Fuller of Bakersfield (R) voted FOR closure of the loophole in Budget Committee but took a walk today.

That's two votes right there, giving us the 54 needed.

The Senate Republicans voting with the Democrats were Denham, Maldonado, and Ashburn. No surprise that the first two are in tough election battles.

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by: sacguy @ Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 20:55:34 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

thx (8.00 / 2)

anything we can do to help?  And seriously, it'd be $50,000 well-spent by the Speaker to run a couple radio ads in Sacramento to highlight Republicans who voted to allow rich people to save money on their yachts.  If he asked me, I'D chip in to hear see that.

I'm about working with the legislative leadership to make Republicans pay for this.  There isn't a "pro-yacht-loophole" faction out there that's any big.

It's time to start thinking strategically.  And since the party largely votes as a block, it's time to start holding every single Republican accountable for the actions of their majority.

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by: David Dayen @ Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 21:11:41 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Precisely (8.00 / 2)

The goal here should be to back the Republicans up against a wall. Only the hardcore in Newport Beach think this yacht tax loophole is any good, whereas voters in other parts of Republican districts also want to keep their classrooms open, their parks and beaches open, their kids on health care. All of us agree that Democrats have a great opportunity here to make Republicans pay for this kind of behavior.

If only the Democratic leadership knew how many Orange County residents are outraged at the specter of education cuts...

You can check out any time you like but you can never leave

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by: Robert Cruickshank @ Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 21:22:46 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

this is made for a visual (0.00 / 0)

A tax loophole so big some can pilot their yatch's through it.

I almost wonder if we should do a weekend media contest on this. Calitics and CMR team up?

Twitter: @BobBrigham

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by: Bob Brigham @ Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 21:34:36 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Legislative Contact Information (0.00 / 0)

Assemblymember Jean Fuller (Bakersfield) voted YES in committee/abstained on the floor.  916.319.2032

Assemblymember Bill Maze (Tulare) voted YES in committee/no on the floor. 916.319.2034.

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by: sacguy @ Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 22:15:55 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

This is absurd (0.00 / 0)

Even if, as Maviglio argues, we have a good chance at rounding up the votes on Tuesday, it's appalling that it is even this difficult to produce the votes needed to close such an egregious loophole.

What it suggests is that we can't simply hope that Sacramento legislators will do the right thing when it comes time to vote on the budget. Instead there needs to be consistent, sustained, and powerful pressure on these people to vote the way we need them to vote.

It would, of course, help if the Democratic leadership did not treat us as lunatics fresh off the turnip truck, but as people interested not only in the same goals, but in outcomes that will also help increase Democratic numbers.


You can check out any time you like but you can never leave

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by: Robert Cruickshank @ Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 21:04:16 PM UTC

Sacramento REPUBLICAN legislators (0.00 / 0)

Democrats did the right thing. Every single one of them. Only five Republicans in the Assembly did.

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by: sacguy @ Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 22:16:41 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

No Robert, not "lunatics" (8.00 / 1)

just members of the "how-many-bumper-stickers-can-I-fit-on-my-car Caucus" who should be mocked by the Dem leadership, or at least their spokespeople.  But I used a dirty word in describing the attitude that implies, so clearly, the critique can safely be ignored.

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by: jsw @ Sat Feb 16, 2008 at 03:49:47 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Assembly Republicans Reject Yacht Tax Closure Loophole (again) (0.00 / 0)

The Assembly took up the Senate bill closing the yacht tax loophole again this afternoon. This time, EVERY Republican voted against it or "took a walk."

The final tally was a 47-18-15 party line vote. Every Democrat voted for it, except Assemblywoman Nell Soto, who is ill and was not in Sacramento.

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by: sacguy @ Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 23:07:26 PM UTC