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An Open Letter To State Senator Abel Maldonado
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by Edmund Jenks | February 16, 2009 at 07:49 am
505 views | 12 Recommendations | 14 comments
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Sen. Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria, votes no as the Senate takes up the budget bills Sunday morning without success. Image Credit: Brian Baer/Sacramento Bee
An Open Letter To State Senator Abel Maldonado
Dear California State Senator Abel Maldonado:
Please show a Republican backbone, an Abe Lincoln (the one who abolished slavery - abusive taxes are slavery) backbone, a fiscal backbone, a Magan's Law type of backbone for ALL of the citizens of this fine state.
VOTE NO ON THE STATE BUDGET - NO ON ANY TAX INCREASES.
Thank you for your backbone - Living in Los Angeles, I do not have a Republican State Senator to speak for me ... so you are my only voice.
Regards,
Edmund Jenks
Managing Editor - MAXINE, Oblate Spheroid, Symblogogy
Feature Page Editor/Reporter - NowPublic
Blog Roll - Pajamas Media"This will get done," Senate Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg [pictured] told Sen. Sam Aanestad, R-Penn Valley, who complained that the closed-door meetings were excluding the public. Image Credit: Carl Costas/Sacramento Bee
This excerpted and edited from the Sacramento Bee -
California lawmakers fail to pass budget deal
By Steve Wiegand and Dan Smith - Sacramento Bee - Monday, February 16, 2009
California legislators tried and failed for a second day Sunday to close a $40 billion hole in the state's budget, still one Republican vote short of approving a package that contains $14.3 billion in tax increases.
State Sen. Abel Maldonado, a moderate Republican from Santa Maria, indicated in an interview with The Bee that he was willing to consider casting the decisive vote if he was satisfied with the final version of the tax proposal.
"I'm very concerned with the tax package," said Maldonado, who early Sunday had been quoted as saying he was adamantly opposed to the tax hikes. "We're still working on that. Everything's fluid. I don't like tax increases. … let me just work on the tax issue. I'm working on that. I don't want my state to go off the cliff, OK? I don't want that."Senate President Pro Tem, Darrell Steinberg, seated, talks with fellow democrats at 5:25 a.m. as they attempt to get the one Republican vote needed to pass the budget plan in the Senate. Behind him from the left, are Senators Mark Leno, D-San Francsico, Christine Kehoe , D-San Diego, Ellen Corbett, D-San Leandro and Jenny Oropeza, D-Long Beach. Image Credit: Brian Baer/Sacramento Bee
Legislative leaders and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger sought to find a way to persuade Maldonado to vote for the tax bill.
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The Senate adjourned shortly thereafter, with plans to return at 11 a.m. today.
As all sides neared exhaustion, the delay was designed to allow Maldonado more time to mull over his choices.
"This will get done," Senate Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg told Sen. Sam Aanestad, R-Penn Valley, who complained that the closed-door meetings were excluding the public.
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I wish to God that you could deviate just a little bit," he told Aanestad, "just a little bit from your philosophy, from this endless mantra of no new revenue, no new revenue ever, and be participant and a partner with us in solving this problem."
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The key bills in the package, which has been hung up since Saturday, require two-thirds approval of both the Assembly and the state Senate.
That means at least three Republicans have to vote for those elements with the 51 Democrats in the Assembly, and three Republicans would have to do likewise with the 24 Democrats in the state Senate. Most Republican legislators have taken pledges never to raise taxes, and fear that doing so could lead to their defeat in GOP primaries.
Even so, legislative leaders had said the three GOP Assembly votes were there. The hang-up was that there were only two Republican senators – Senate GOP leader Dave Cogdill of Modesto and Sen. Roy Ashburn of Bakersfield – willing to vote for the package.
Another GOP senator, Dave Cox of Fair Oaks, was widely believed to be the 27th vote, but made it clear Sunday he would vote no.
The budget-balancing aspect of the package takes a three-pronged approach, with $14.3 billion in temporary tax increases, $15.1 billion in spending cuts and $11.4 billion in borrowing.
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The plan also relies on voter approval of five measures at a May 19 special election.
Voters would be asked to OK borrowing money from two voter-created special funds for mental health and children's health programs, changing constitutional language that covers lottery operations and school financing, and creating a spending cap.
Reference Here>>
The latter five measure conditions that require a vote by the public on May 19th are provisions that have been voted on by the citizens before - passing by 70% - and now this group of legislators will be asking all of us to overturn our vote on the use of these monies in the State Budget.
Why don't we all vote to end taxation slavery and get a whole new bunch of legislators who know how NOT to tax and spend.
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Edmund Jenks
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (14)
at 16:45 on February 16th, 2009
The California State Senate resumed their session at 2:30pm PT and so far ... no vote!
at 18:05 on February 16th, 2009
As negotiations continue, the Senate has set floor session for 6 p.m. after previously scheduling it for 11 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.
at 05:36 on February 17th, 2009
Sen. Abel Maldonado's long wish list that has caused the delays - http://tinyurl.com/akgc2g
California State Budget Stalemate continues Tuesday 2/17/2009 at 10 AM when the tax bill will be called up.
UPDATES ... to follow.
at 06:31 on February 17th, 2009
This found over at the Sacramento Bee -
Popular Comment:
ALWAYS THREATS!
The Schwarz is going to lay off everyone, Maldonado will sign IF he gets two constitutional amendments - whatever that is.
Budget discussions behind closed doors with "the big 5" - this sounds like Yet Another Bad Schwarzenegger Movie. We can look for expenditures around the state to cut - you don't have to lay off 20,000 people, you don't have to force people to lose a day's pay, you don't have to tax the stuffing out of everyone in the state.
One good thing about this situation is that the sales tax & vehicle fees will hit illegals of all nationalities that are robbing this state blind on a daily basis.
You hit the personal income tax - and of course whatever we get from the feds, you're going to steal, together with stealing paychecks & what might you call that?
CUT THE LEGISLATORS CARS, CUT THE LEGISLATORS MEDICAL ONCE THEY LEAVE OFFICE (do you know that a state employee must work TWENTY yrs to vest for healthcare?).
Legislators' Life time pension for 4 years work? That's wrong. WAKE UP
-- RF
All of this debt and fiscal budget crisis in California and the only person to state clearly what force is to blame is Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth, R-Murrieta, who responded to Steinberg's threat - about keeping the Senate in session starting Tuesday without a break until an agreement (passage) is reached - by saying it was overspending by Democrats, not Republican intransigence, that is hurting the state.
"You're not going to go back to people's pocketbooks to fuel that spending," he said.
As a lifelong Californian, I pray that these strong Republicans can hold fast and have the State do what it should have done all along - live within its means by providing srevices to its porvable, and tax paying United States CITIZENS!
at 08:48 on February 17th, 2009
We can only hope that State Senator Abel Maldonado holds out and does not fold under pressure form the left in this state. The Governor is threatening layoffs. Every time I drive by a Caltrans construction site and see 5 state employees (doing nothing) watching one man dig a hole, I just shake my head in disgust. It is time for drastic cutbacks in expenditures. In the long run, the state will be much better off.
We probably will never see Conservative control of our state again. I was born here (in “beautiful downtown <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />Burbank”). I have watched the state go down hill for 50 of my 66 years. Now it is circling the drain at a rapid pace. Hopefully our citizens will come to their senses and stop sending liberals to Sacramento. I would find it tough to leave the state. As stated, I was born here. My son is buried in the soil here (just a few miles from my home). But I just don’t think I can take it anymore.at 17:25 on February 18th, 2009
WE AND OTHER FRIENDS APPLAUD YOUR EFFORTS DURING THE BUDGET PROBLEMS!!!
PLEASE CONTINUE YOUR EFFORTS! PLEASE RUN FOR GOVERNOR/PRESIDENT! I WILL HELP IN ANY WAY I CAN.
Jim & Jan
at 18:55 on February 18th, 2009
UPDATE from Sacramento:
AB 3 vote fails 23 12 with 4 abstentions Ashburn, Cox, Correa and Cogdill.
California Senate in recess to 7 PM tonight.
Democrats considering firm offer for budget deal
This from the Sacramento Bee -
at 19:26 on February 18th, 2009
Session started at 7:00 PM - a couple of speakers stood up including Maldonado ... nothing conclusive.
CA State Senators are strolling in the aisles. Chair recognizes Rep Kevin McCarthy.
Lift the call AB 3 fails 23 -12 with 4 abstentions - replace the call and reconvene at 10:00 PM
at 20:42 on February 18th, 2009
The Senate coming back at 9pm, supposedly the 3 demands of Sen. Maldonado have been met - here comes a 17 percent tax increase folks.
The Assembly call at midnight is not a good sign that Senator Abel Maldonado will stand up and become a tax hero. He's headed down the path of ZERO!
at 05:47 on February 19th, 2009
Senator Abel Maldonado has caved and the State of California is headed for an additional $17 billion in taxes and fees.
A series of votes are being taken at this moment which prove that Maldonado's conditions have been met and the sellout has been made at a very hefty price to the taxpaying citizens of this once fine state.
at 06:13 on February 19th, 2009
CA Assembly Watch: Open primary election change fails by 9 votes short - will this cause Senator Maldonado to vote against the tax hike?
Answer? - NO
Maldonado: "This might be the end for me but won't be the end for the state of California ... When I took an oath to defend the state ... I never thought I'd have to defend it against my party" (Question: Is the State the Government or is the State the People?)
CA taxes increased by vote of CA State Senate with Abel Maldonado, Cogdill and Roy Ashburn providing 3 GOP votes - Well People, you have your answer ... just as happened with the Federal Government, the State is the Government and the Government is the Democrat Political Party plus only three Republicans.
Spending and Taxes go up and presonal freedoms and control over decisions in ones life go down.
at 11:06 on February 19th, 2009
For more information about Abel Maldonado visit http://www.juuh.com/Abel_Maldonado
at 02:56 on February 21st, 2009
I am *not* a Republican, but the Republicans in the legislature had it right this time -- except for Abel Maldonado, Roy Ashburn, and Dave Cogdill who sold us out in favor of special interests by rewarding fiscal irresponsibility and balancing the budget on the backs of the people. I hope they face recall elections. Democrat legislators also deserve blame of course. They should have accepted the Republican offer to pass a budget with some tax increases in exchange for a state spending cap that would have helped prevent this problem from recurring in the future. But of course that was unacceptable to them, because their strategy is to keep overspending and then stick the bill to the taxpayers after the fact, just like they did this time, not giving a damn that people are already hurting in a recession and can't afford a bailout of fiscally irresponsible politicians.
at 12:26 on February 23rd, 2009
I am appalled at the inability of our state leaders, both houses of the state legislature to figure out a plan, other than raising taxes to cover this $42 billion dollar debt.
Not only can they not control spending but then they feel it is our responsibility to bare the burden. It’s like asking your children to pay for the credit card debt you as a parent have created. I think I have a solution that most Californians would agree to. I suggest this alternative only because many of us are going through this pain right now with our companies and jobs. It’s called taking a pay cut. If every employee for the state of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />California took only a 3-4% pay cut (I’m talking about every employee including our overpaid legislators and the governor) how much of the deficit do you think would be covered. I don’t know the numbers but I would guess it would be significant. I know in the company I work for the choice was simple. Do you want to keep your job…then take a pay cut. I know the state employees must feel pretty secure knowing that they have a job during these hard times. How about feeling the pain… "Without God, democracy will not and cannot long endure.” Ronald Reagan