If you read this article in the Left Angeles Times, it is when Republican activists and allies tell the Republicans in the state legislature to just say no to new or extended taxes.
For the Left Angeles Times, this is not all in all a bad story. It highlights four people that are leading the battle to end the tax extension forced by the former governor, Benedict Arnold, squishy Republicans and the majority Democratic legislature.
The four are Jon Coupal of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association, a leading tax opponent in California. And remind the youngsters reading this, Howard Jarvis, along with Paul Gann wrote the landmark Proposition 13 that rolled back crippling property taxes in California. And that was way back in 1978.
Next is Jon Fleischman, proprietor of the Flash Report, which this blog links to. He is a long time conservative Republican activist and has the ear of the rank-and-file voters within the party.
Then is the Los Angeles talk radio duo of John and Ken on KFI 640 radio. The afternoon drive team has been riding the anti-tax wave for many years now. Since Benedict Arnold became governor, one of their shticks-and I write it not to be offense-is putting those sellout Republicans for taxes Heads-On-A-Stick. It is a reminder as much as a warning to those that run as conservative Republicans, get to Sacramento and decide to get chummy with the power rather than work to keep taxes simple and low.
And that is the background in a nutshell.
So let us look at the article in the Times to see what is wrong with it.
First, this is a quote from the Senate president, Democrat Darrell Steinberg:
"There is nary a conversation about the budget that does not involve the names John and Ken," said Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), the state Senate leader, who says the pair complicate his party's negotiations with Republicans.
Get it? If these damn fool John and Ken would just shut up, Sen. Darrell can get the two or more Republican votes he needs. And what does he need those votes for? To extend for five years the tax hikes that were only suppose to be for two years. Oh, and the best part? We the citizens get to vote for them. Never mind that in the last election, all four tax initiatives failed. Prop 1A failed which would have made these taxes longer term. See, Sen. Darrell wants just enough Republicans to walk the plank. And John and Ken, Mr. Fleischman and Mr. Coupal are saying no way.
Then there is this "analysis" from the writers, Anthony York and Shane Goldmacher:
The activists offer no alternative budget plan and say no policy concessions on Republican priorities — such as a state spending cap or a pension overhaul — are worth ceding ground on taxes. If they succeed in blocking the public vote on taxes that Brown's budget blueprint includes, the governor promises a spending plan containing deep service cuts that he says would have disastrous consequences for the state.
Hey guys, it is not their job to offer any alternative. Again, that is the job of the Republicans in the legislature. And really, there have been moves before to reign in spending. But it is like Lucy pulling the football away from Charlie Brown as he runs to kick it. The Republicans have a habit of being like Charlie Brown. And we, the voters and activists are tired of it.
The Flash Report is compared to the Drudge Report in the article. I think that may not be a compliment, but if I were Mr. Fleischman I sure would make it one. And later in the article, Mr. Fleischman is called "the resident Republican gossip". Ooohh! To paraphrase our illustrious Vice-President, Joe Biden, BFD.
Since the Republican legislators were still with their proverbial fingers in their rear-end, enter Jon Coupal to give them voice.
The article goes on to point out that Mr. Coupal promoted the idea of tax cuts along with the tax extensions. And the GOP got on board.
And Mr. Coupal had a very interesting observation:
"I would say that the Republicans are in no more fear of us than the Democrats are of the unions."
So, why do we elect these dolts in the first place if they can not come up with such a plan themselves? They are so worried about looking good rather than being adults and say the party is over and time to pay the bill. There is a real lack of leadership among elected Republicans in the state legislature. And that is why these four people have so much influence. Because the Republicans in Sacramento are beyond nervous Nellies.
The article goes on about the whinny for state assemblyman Anthony Adams, who signed a pledge not to raise taxes. But damn if he did not cave in. Because, you know, he is for "good government". If "good government" is to keep our heads in the sand about the long-term liability for state employee pensioners, then I do not want to be a part of it. If "good government" means no serious budget cuts and departmental reform, I do not want to be a part of it. If "good government" means voting for "temporary" tax hikes, I do not want to be a part of it.
The bottom line is that these individuals and their organizations and allies are doing the right thing. They are holding the people elected to what they ran on. Not raising taxes. Cutting the budget. Budgetary reform. These are very important to us in the Republican party in California.
But leave it to the Left Angeles Times to make that out to be a bad thing.
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