Republicans see election results as vindication for hard-line stand against raising taxes

Republican lawmakers took the election results as vindication for taking a hard-line against new taxes and unreasonable borrowing, and were scrambling today to come up with an alternative fix.

"They have spoken unequivocally. They do not want to see budget gimmicks. They don’t want to see higher taxes and they don’t want to see further delays," said Assembly Republican Leader-elect Sam Blakeslee of San Luis Obispo. "The public expects this Legislature to do its job and to make the tough decisions that frankly have been avoided for much too long."

The Assembly Republican Caucus will bring in outside financial experts to check the accuracy of revenue projections because of concern voiced by Blakeslee that the state may have been over-optimistic in its projections on the state economy.

Although Blakeslee said he was open to proposals to sell surplus assets and generate more lease revenue, he said the budget problem would require consideration of cuts to spending, including layoffs and pay reductions.

"All departments … need to be on the table for review for downsizing and restructuring," he said.

Meanwhile, Senate Republican Leader Dennis Hollingsworth (R-Murrieta) and his caucus proposed a package of legislation that would generate additional private-sector jobs and shift money to classrooms that is now paying for the education bureaucracy.

Voters "clearly want us to solve these problems. That's what they elected us to do, not keep reaching into their pockets to pay for our mismanagement," Hollingsworth said.

-- Patrick McGreevy

Comments

[Joaquin]

What vindication? That’s a stretch—this voter was repulsed by a special election being held on the heels of the general election and nary one month until the next. What a waste of taxpayer dollars! The republicans were “vindicated” last November, as I recall, for their fiscal policies. Let’s not read too much into this election's outcomes.

[Dan]

No, the Republicans should not take the results of the election as a vindication. I'm furious at all of you for your constant in-fighting and inability to work together. Both you and the Democrats should all be thrown out of office. I'll see you at the polls. Personally, you no longer work and the system in broken. You all need to be replaced with something new.

Dan

[Joe]

Come on! LA Times print edition didn't even list election result percentages. Finnegan's column was pure sour grapes and Mathew's Op Ed piece was entirely out of whack - Vote four times a year...- What kind of agenda does he want to sneak through? Roll back state budget to 1994 level, which was plenty generous for all sides and problem is solved. Trouble is entitlement groupies lining up for their suck at the public teat. It's that simple and doesn't need to be analyzed much more than that. Of course there will be some squeals when their sucking mouths are pried from the nipple but everyone learns to wean and becomes stronger for it.