Say this about the leadership of the California Republican Party: They're nothing if not pure.
The party's executive board met over the weekend to take positions on the May 19 special election ballot measures. The meeting came amid a chorus of conservative criticism of Proposition 1A, the state spending restraint that would also, if passed, extend the duration of temporary tax increases approved by the Legislature in February.
As expected, the party came out against Prop. 1A, and also Prop. 1B, the measure that would assure the schools of $9 billion in back payments for money they were shorted under the school-spending guarantee during recent lean years.
But then the party kept going. Not only did they oppose the portions of the budget compromise that Democrats initiated, they also came out against portions of the deal that were, from the outset, ideas that were advocated by and broadly supported by Republicans.
The state party is now against Proposition 1D, which would divert money from county First 5 commissions -- the same commisions that Republicans have criticized for hoarding and, in many cases, misspending tax money. The party is also against Proposition 1E, which would divert money from mental health programs. GOP leaders in the Legislature sought these measures as a way to close the state budget gap without having to resort to tax increases.
Finally, the party is now on record against Proposition 1F, which would prohibit legislators and other state elected officials from receiving salary increases during years in which the state budget is in deficit. Polling shows that more than 80 percent of California voters support that idea.
The party leaders' rationale is that they just plain don't like the February budget -- and they apparently dislike it so much that they want to toss out the provisions most of them wanted in the first place just because they are now tainted by having become part of a compromise.
First 5s are sitting on over $2 BILLION dollars, funds they can use over the next 5 years while they help the rest of California. It's a total misstatement for them to say that those monies are already committed to certain programs because with one vote their commissions can direct those reserves to whatever they choose to. So, who's to be trusted?
Well, IMO, it's not First 5. They are run by Commissioners who vote for budgets that direct cash to their own departments and organizations AND they are misstating facts about how 1D would affect their daily work over the 5 year span of it. Prop 1D puts the County Auditor on the Commission to stop these abuses.
If that does not bother you then this should: the First 5 lobbyist has received $1 million of First 5 funds - about $200K of that went straight to her pension plan - IRS forms say so! Prop 1D stops her from taking any new First 5 funds!
Vote YES on 1D !
The state Republicans are just following the national party line: whatever the question, whatever the issue, regardless of the country's best interests, the answer is always "NO!." The G-NO-P is so predictable.
The state Republicans are just following the national party line: whatever the question, whatever the issue, regardless of the country's best interests, the answer is always "NO!." The G-NO-P is so predictable.