Experts Expound

Experts Expound

“Does anyone, anywhere see the possibility of a compromise agreement on the state budget? If so, what would it be?”

The possibility of compromise exists. Republicans aren’t so hidebound and moronic that every single one of them would hold out for the kind of draconian cuts necessary to balance the budget without some revenue enhancements. Ultimately, deeper cuts will be coupled with an extension of current tax rates. Common sense will prevail – unless, of course, Donald Trump shifts his focus from Obama’s birth and lack of academic credentials to California’s budget dilemma.

No, the Republicans who are open to the tax vote are from gerrymandered, safe districts and face certain recall if they cave for nothing.  They could defend a tax vote that is coupled with a spending cap and pension reform, but the Democrats are not able to make that deal.

With the recent Times/USC poll indicating public support for a cuts/tax extension package, the price just went up. A spending cap and significant public pension have to be part of the package to spring a few Republican votes. And then, like always, the brave-soul Republicans will need a safe landing if the political fallout isn’t kind to them. Don’t expect the cushy board and commission jobs to be eliminated as part of the budget deal.    

“The GOP 5,” hated by their own caucus and now mistrusted by Dems, will be forced to concede on their laundry list with a face-saving compromise after they see what an all-cuts budget looks like.

It is highly unlikely, in my view. Brown apparently couldn’t grasp from the beginning that Republicans could get exactly what they wanted – letting the tax increases expire – by doing exactly nothing – i.e., not giving Brown the votes he was seeking to put the extensions on the ballot. Brown completely overestimated his gift of gab and native charm in attempting to get Republican legislators to do something that was inimical to their political self-interest and even survival. A huge miscalculation by someone who assured us he knew all about how Sacramento works.

They will compromise and put a vote on the ballot. May revise will push a vote. Recent polls show that 75 percent of voters want to vote rather than confront an all-cuts budget. Must give Jerry Brown credit for focus and tenacity at a time when partisan politics on both side produce muddle and indecision.

It is the same as it has always been – tax extensions for pension reform and regulatory relief.

No, because Republicans are hell-bent on making government perform badly. That’s their only agenda.

Andrew Acosta, A.G. Block, Mark Bogetich, Barry Brokaw, J Dale Debber, Peter DeMarco, Mike Donovan, Jim Evans, Kathy Fairbanks, Jeff Fuller, Rex Frazier, Ken Gibson, Evan Goldberg, Deborah Gonzalez, Sandy Harrison, Bob Hertzberg, Jason Kinney, Greg Lucas, Mike Madrid, Nicole Mahrt, Steve Maviglio,  Adam Mendelsohn, Barbara O’Connor, Bill Packer, Kassy Perry, Jack Pitney, Adam Probolsky, Tony Quinn, Matt Rexroad, Matt Ross, Roger Salazar, Dan Schnur, Will Shuck, Ralph Simoni, Sam Sorich, Ray Sotero, Garry South, Kevin Spillane, Robin Swanson, Angie Wei, Rich Zeiger

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