Budget Agreement (Sacramento, Santa Maria, Brea: tax, business, pay)

[NewToCA]

Finally!:

The state Senate voted early Thursday to approve a massive budget package of tax increases, spending cuts and borrowing to close a $40 billion deficit after granting major concessions to one holdout Republican senator.

Lawmakers had been at a five-day impasse until Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders Thursday agreed to give Sen. Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria, major changes he demanded in exchange for providing a crucial 27th vote for the state budget.



Senate approves budget plan - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee (http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/1636911.html - broken link)

[GLS]

Originally Posted by NewToCA

Finally!:

The state Senate voted early Thursday to approve a massive budget package of tax increases, spending cuts and borrowing to close a $40 billion deficit after granting major concessions to one holdout Republican senator.

Lawmakers had been at a five-day impasse until Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders Thursday agreed to give Sen. Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria, major changes he demanded in exchange for providing a crucial 27th vote for the state budget.





Senate approves budget plan - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee (http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/1636911.html - broken link)

Although I don't agree with all the leveraging, political games, and brinkmanship, I do wish Maldonado would have held firm on getting legislators pay suspended during deficit years. Simply saying, "You don't get your raise" isn't a strong enough motivator. On a personal note, last year when they were playing games with the budget, I didn't get paid for July, August & September until October 15th. Almost went out of business with no cash flow. Unless these guys are really punished for incompetence, they don't give a c**p!

[Ludachris]

Originally Posted by GLS

Although I don't agree with all the leveraging, political games, and brinkmanship, I do wish Maldonado would have held firm on getting legislators pay suspended during deficit years. Simply saying, "You don't get your raise" isn't a strong enough motivator. On a personal note, last year when they were playing games with the budget, I didn't get paid for July, August & September until October 15th. Almost went out of business with no cash flow. Unless these guys are really punished for incompetence, they don't give a c**p!

Why can't the voters propose that very same thing and get it passed?