Calif. GOP Ousts Leader Amid Budget Talks

[DrDeke]

Calif. GOP Ousts Leader Amid Budget Talks

A delicate budget fix crafted by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders was on the brink of collapse early Wednesday after Republicans in the Senate ousted their leader. The late-night coup could derail already strained budget talks by requiring them to renegotiate with a new Republican leader.
The current package containing billions in tax hikes, spending cuts and borrowing took leaders more than three months to put together as the state tries to pass a midyear budget fix and avoid fiscal calamity. (Read "Calif. Lawmakers Still Trying for Budget".)

Lawmakers viewed the leadership change as a major setback after they fell short by just one GOP vote, but Democratic leader Darrell Steinberg said he didn't want to speculate what it would mean for the package. "We're after one reasonable person who puts California first," Steinberg said as Republicans voted to remove Sen. Dave Cogdill.

Republicans replaced Cogdill with Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth, R-Murietta, whom they saw as more capable of resisting tax increases. "I don't want to see a tax increase passed," Hollingsworth said Wednesday shortly after assuming the leadership post. "I think the majority of my caucus doesn't want to see a tax increase passed in the package. We'll see what happens in the next few hours, next few days." (Read "California Budget Crisis At Legislative Impasse".)


http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1880278,00.html">More Here

[Xithras]

1. So much for having a budget any time soon.

Cogdill was finally coming around and had taken a compromising position, accepting tax increases in exchange for spending caps. This new guy is 100% anti-tax, which means we're back to square one.

[proud patriot]

2. GOP obstructionists really irritate me

[ronnykmarshall]

3. Jerks ... they don't give a damn about people

Selfish pricks.