From The LA Times:
State Sen. Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria) says he brokered a deal with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday that may position him to break the logjam in Sacramento and cast the final GOP vote needed for budget passage.
But there is a catch — the agreement could cost some Democratic votes for the bipartisan spending plan that the governor and legislative leaders have put together. And there are none to spare. [Read More]
Maldonado’s 4 item budget wishlist is all he wants before he jumps ship to vote with the Democrats on the Big 5 tax bill. The most ridiculous item in his list is that he wants open primaries for state legislature elections; something he would need after pissing off every real Republican in the state.
The three other items on Maldonado’s list could also push Senators on both sides away from this toxic bill: a law cutting pay for legislators if a budget is passed late, a law canceling pay and per diem raises for legislators during a budget deficit, and he wants to remove the pork spending from the budget.
Don’t know how plausible this scenario is; if Maldonado gets all of his requests, he’s indicated that there will be a vote tonight.
However, the change in leadership on the Republican side in the Senate will change up the debate and give the no-tax Republicans a stronger position; Hollingsworth wants to re-open negotiations. Also, Hollingsworth will be talking with Villines, who’s days as Assembly Minority Leader may be numbered after a John and Ken “Fatwa” and the shake-up in the Senate.
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