Last night, Democrats in the California Assembly passed billions of new taxes on a party-line vote. There’s just one problem: Tax increases require a two-thirds vote. If these increases are signed into law, they’d be challenged—almost certainly successfully—and we’d be back at square one.
In reality, that’s not going to happen. Governor Schwarzenegger announced that he will be vetoing the bills (if they reach his desk), noting:
I will veto any majority vote tax increase bill that punishes taxpayers for Sacramento’s failure to live within its means. The Legislature will have a difficult time explaining to Californians why they are running floor drills the day before our budget deadline. We do not have time for any more floor drills or partial solutions. It’s time for the Legislature to send me a budget that solves our entire deficit without raising taxes.
Will the Democrats in the legislature actually listen? Today is the last day for the budget situation to be resolved before the fiscal year begins. My guess is that tomorrow will dawn without a solution.
Last night, Assembylwoman Audra Strickland (R-Thousand Oaks) gave this two minute talk on the priorities of the Democrats (Hat tip, Flash Report).