News

From Wikipedia: Verb: to bury the lede: (idiomatic, US, journalism) To begin a story with details of secondary importance to the reader while postponing more essential points or facts. As prior posts have noted, thanks to the voter last November, a state budget – but not a tax or fee increase – can be passed by a simple majority of the legislature. The strategy for Brown appears to be to present a no-tax Budget from Hell, pass it, and then put a proposition on the ballot by June to extend the tax increases of Feb. 2009 that are due to…

Gov. Brown will release his budget on Monday. Meanwhile, the state controller has issued figures on the state’s cash receipts and expenditures through December, i.e., half way through the fiscal year. The figures show revenues up almost a billion dollars relative to projections made when the budget was signed (late). You can find the figures and analyses at : http://www.sco.ca.gov/Files-ARD/CASH/fy1011dec.pdf http://www.sco.ca.gov/Files-EO/01-11summary.pdf There will be a temptation to say the fiscal problem is over or is getting better or will take care of itself. If so, the strategy of presenting a Budget from Hell and then putting tax extensions on the…

As a result of last November’s election, only a simple majority is needed to pass a state budget. However, a 2/3 vote is required to raise taxes or fees. Legislative Democrats have a majority but not a 2/3 supermajority. Gov. Brown’s plan is apparently to propose a budget constrained by current revenue – which would feature major cuts – and then put a measure on the ballot that would extend temporary tax increases the legislature adopted in Feb. 2009 that will soon expire. To put a measure on the ballot, however, he needs a 2/3 vote – which means some…