Do Something: Note to CA State Assembly/Senate Republicans

CA is ungovernable. Its proposition system, while useful during the Progressive Era, has redefined what it means to be a State Assemblyman (I use Assemblyman to include both the Assembly and the Senate). Duties that a State Assemblyman must do are hazy, at best.

Do they govern? Maybe.

Do they pass laws? Not sure.

Is their rhetoric worth the 100,000+ salary/yr? Definitely not.

They represent the people. That is why we elect them. A healthy dose of direct democracy is good, but not when it acts as an excuse for Assemblymen to not do their jobs.

With that said, this post is a note to the Republicans in the Senate/Assembly. I do not want people to assume that Democrats are not culpable. They are. They have been. They own some of the problems associated with outrageous spending and waste. But, in this new budget session, it seems as if Republicans are the ONLY obstacle to common sense, live-within-our-means solutions offered up by Gov. Jerry Brown.

Gov Brown's mix of massive program cuts and extension (not raising) of current tax rates is the only way to push CA towards fiscal responsibility. We have a $25 billion budget hole and that is the best, and most balanced way to start shutting it. But, CA has been here before. In 1967, Gov. Ronald Regan used forceful rhetoric to compel Republicans to vote for a tax increase to cover the deficit. As did Pete Wilson, in 1991.

CA has been purported to have created a hostile tax policy for the growth of business. That's why so many businesses have left CA. Well, maybe not. According to the Public Policy Institute of CA, between 1992 and 2006, business relocation only accounted for 1.7% of job losses. In fact, job loss due to relocation is one of the smallest amongst the 50 states.

And, the rhetoric has been especially caustic. At an anti-tax rally, a Republican state Assemblywoman said that Brown's plan would "rape the taxpayers." Where was that kind of language when Schwarzenegger passed these temporary tax hikes two years ago? And, her solution? Create private sector jobs for the unemployed because businesses are leaving the state. For her second statement, see the explanation above. As for her first statement, that's boilerplate language without any substance.

But, the egregious part of the CA state Republican strategy is, just like their counterparts in the 110th Congress, to do nothing. Not only will they not negotiate on any tax extension (Again, EXTENSION, not INCREASE), they are unwilling to let a ballot measure go to the public for a vote. They have managed to both impede progress in the Capitol (not like that's news) and block an essential element of CA democracy - vote by the people. Their justification is that the Democrats "tax-and-spended" us into oblivion, so it is their budget to deal with, not ours. They OWN it. Yup, they do. But, last I heard, the entire state of CA, including Republicans in the state houses own it too. It is as if Republicans believe they live in some sort of Mt Olympus, city in sky above CA, and therefore do not have to deal with its problems. To change a Led Zeppelin song: Republicans are singing "everybody's fault but mine." And now, 30 out of 42 Republicans joined a Tax Caucus to oppose Brown. Oy...

Here is my note:

Dear Republicans in the Senate/Assembly -

I understand you are used to not having to deal with the budget. When the Governator roamed the hall of the Capitol, the budget wasn't dealt with until it was at least 3-5 months too late. I know its a shock that we actually have a common-sense budget plan. God forbid you would have to actually work across the aisle to get us out of this budget deficit.

But, please allow for these tax extensions to go to a vote. If they pass, you know CA democracy works. If they don't, you also get the vindication that CA voters would rather see education suffer than having to pay more to register their car. I get it. You don't like taxes. Neither do your constituents. But, last I heard, we all live in CA, not the 120 states of the CA Legislature. Everyone will pay them, and we might end up in a situation where we can lower them, once the deficit is dealt with. And, you even get a bunch of program cuts.

I'm really not asking a lot. Once the taxes go to the voters, we can all revel in the great democratic process. Then, you can come down from your citadel in the sky and actually start doing your job. Wouldn't that be swell!

Thanks!