Did the Democrats in CA fail completely?

[Onlooker]

Everything I've read suggests that the Demcocratic Party in CA 100% caved in to the right wing. They're massively cutting funding for K-12, state universities, and also cutting welfare and health care programs for the poor. Did they cut any of the things that the middle class might care more about, such as state police or close state offices in middle class communities? Did the Democrats, who hold a majority in the CA legislature, win anything? From what I can find, it seems like a complete debacle.

[varelse]

1. They don't hold a 2/3 majority

you might say it's California that has failed to make it possible for a simple majority to pass a budget.

[Onlooker]

2. Yes, I understand that ...

... But, they still had considerable clout. Even if they could not get tax or fee hikes, they should have gotten something. Did they?

[varelse]

7. Unfortunately, no

they're even having trouble with the "early furlough" part of the budget solution. Republicans are threatening to blow the new budget deal up if any prisoners are furloughed early as part of the cost-saving measures.

[Peacetrain]

3. No one can do anything in California because of the 2/3 rule.

Look we are going to push Health Care with 51, if we had to go by the 2/3 rule, nothing would ever be accomplished. And that is what is going on in Calif.

[Jester Messiah]

4. They certainly didn't succeed, but...

I don't think there were any good options. My impression is that their only alternative would have been to have a staring match with the repubs while the state burned. They weren't willing to let the people pay the price of any intransigence, but the repubs were. Seen in that light, their decision is understandable.

[Le Taz Hot]

5. There is no right wing/left wing in

California or in any other state. It's like George Carlin said, we don't have choice (in elections), we have the ILLUSION of choice. Political Party A presents Tweedle Dee. Political Party B presents Tweedle Dum. If you understand that ALL of these guys suckle off the same corporate teet, it all makes sense. It's why we're not getting single payer health care, it's why we're still in Iran, it's why the bailout went SOLELY to the fat cats and on and on. As much as his name is reviled around here, Ralph Nader had an absolutely legitimate point. There's your answer.

[ourbluenation]

6. No, not entirley. For example...

Ahnold wanted to cut $20 million out of the Battered Women's Shelter Program. The dems fought back and kept the loss to 20%. They did the same with Calworks and Healthy Families. The fact is, there are enough righties in the legislature to block passing a budget.