(I'll be on the Bay Area's Green 960 tonight with Angie Coiro to talk about the budget mess. I should be on around 7:15. You can stream live here. - promoted by Brian Leubitz)
After a few failed attempts at a vote on the most recent majority vote package, the Governor is threatening a veto if he doesn't get some "stimulus." By way of explaining what the Governor's words really mean, please just replace the word "stimulus" with "screw California's workers." After all, it's not like Schwarzenegger thinks we can give some sort of tax break or anything, no he's talking about cutting overtime to employees, allowing shorter breaks, and generally taking a machete to worker's rights in this state. So, you know, we'll be "stimulated."
Both houses of the Legislature attempted to get a vote done last night, but that was pushed back to this morning:
Both houses of the Legislature were to convene this evening to vote on a new Democratic budget plan that raises taxes without two-thirds votes but the sessions were delayed as legislative leaders negotiated for a signature from Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Schwarzenegger reportedly was demanding concessions from Democrats on regulatory and labor laws that business groups have been demanding - changes that the Democrats' allies in labor and environmental groups strongly oppose. (SacBee 12/17/08
This really is a strange situation, the Governor knows that he has a bit of leverage on this with the Legislative Republicans out of the picture, so he's back to his right-wingish self. Attacking labor and quietly expanding the Chamber of Commerce's stranglehold over the Horseshoe, he really is getting a knack for this. And yet, the situation is such that negotiation on these terms is mandatory, despite the fact that Arnold's ridiculous "Car Tax" BS caused all of this. Shock Doctrine anyone?
Meanwhile, Tony Strickland, showing his true stripes, has got the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer's, and other assorted rightwingers all ready for a lawsuit against the proposed deal. If you happen to be in the Capitol, check out their presser this morning at 10 in Room 4203. If this gets a signature, we will surely see a lawsuit about 3 seconds afterwards. And no amount of Arnold cozying up to Jon Coupal on Prop 11 will avoid that.
UPDATE: Shane Goldmacher is reporting that Speaker Bass thinks the Governor will sign the bill as revised. The bill includes some, but not all, of the Governor's "stimulus" ideas. |
