Assembly Democrats Pass Massive Tax Increases
So What's New
June 29th, 2009, 12:15 am · 43 Comments · posted by BRIAN JOSEPH, Sacramento Correspondent
Exploiting a legislative loophole, Assembly Democrats late Sunday passed a tax increase and other fixes to bridge the state’s $24.3 billion deficit without a single Republican vote.
Typically, tax increases and budget votes require a two-thirds majority. Since just over one third of the Assembly is controlled by Republicans, that means Democrats need at least a handful of GOP votes.
But under the plan approved late Sunday, the Democrats were able to approve the tax increases and budget fixes, which come close to solving the entire deficit, on a simple majority vote.
The State Senate is scheduled to vote on the same plan starting at 9:30 a.m. today.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office, however, has said the governor “will veto any majority-vote plan.”
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