MInority Republicans are toughening their positions
on tax cuts and overhauling public pensions, as tensions escalate in the Capitol over the $25.4 billion state budget shortage.
From the Bee's Kevin Yamamura: "GOP lawmakers announced Wednesday that 30 Republicans had
formed a "Taxpayers Caucus," vowing not to send Brown's
tax hike
extensions to the ballot unless they are accompanied
by tax reduction
proposals."
"Since the latter idea is a nonstarter among Democrats
–
and has been brushed aside by GOP leaders so far – the group's position
essentially amounts to 30 "no" votes for Brown's budget, more than
two-thirds of Republicans in the Capitol."
Republicans might be smarter to take advantage of their
bargaining position, rather than simply say no, notes Capitol Weekly's
Greg Lucas.
"All of which begs the question:
Why isn’t there a line of Republican lawmakers streaming into
Brown’s Capitol
office, starting with the GOP leaders of each house?"
"A budget plan like Brown has put forward, in which
some Republican support of
one of its key elements is essential, positively trumpets: “Attention shoppers, this store is now open. Come on
down and pick my shelves
clean.”
Orange County Republicans are taking the lead in cutting
public pensions, led by freshman Assemblyman Allan Mansoor and Sen.
Mimi Walters, with the latter's bill having more traction,
reports the Register's Martin Wisckol.
"Mansoor touted his solidarity with legislators in
the Midwest. Beside Wisconsin, where the governor has
proposed gutting much of public employees’ collective bargaining rights, proposed legislation
targeting public employee unions is also pending in
Indiana and Ohio, according to a Los Angeles Times story today..."
"Meanwhile, Walters
last week introduced 10 separate measures designed to address the state’s
unfunded pension obligations. The centerpiece, Senate
Bill 520, would
transition new public employees from the current defined-benefit program to a
defined-contribution plan, also known as a 401(k)-type retirement plan."
A key component of the pension battle is the anger
of private-sector workers who see public employees getting secure payouts while
their own pensions have weakened, notes the Times' George Skelton.
"Private-sector
workers have been taking it on the chin for a decade
or more: Future pensions
frozen for current employees and eliminated for new
hires; retirees at the
mercy of risky 401(k) plans and Wall Street. Plus layoffs and elimination
of
retiree health benefits. Now it's the public sector's turn to suffer, in the
eyes of many in private
enterprise. It's sort of an American civil war between
government and
non-government families."
"A key question that we think needs to be asked," Assistant
Legislative Analyst Jason Sisney said in a recent report,
"is this: Can
the substantial disparity between public and private
sector retirement benefits
be sustained much longer? We think that it probably
cannot."
Finally, from our "Life is Too Complicated and Getting Worse" file, we learn that shoppers are gnashing their teeth
at that most humble of household purchases -- toothpaste.
"An explosion of specialized pastes and gels brag about
their powers to whiten teeth, reduce plaque, curb sensitivity
and fight
gingivitis, sometimes all at the same time. Add in
all the flavors and sizes,
plus ever-rising prices, and the simple errand turns into sensory
overload."
"Manufacturers acknowledge the problem and are putting
the
brakes on new-product introductions. Last year, 69 new toothpastes hit store
shelves, down from 102 in 2007, according to market-research firm Mintel
International Group…"
"Stores are trying to simplify,
too. Last month, 352 distinct types or sizes of toothpaste were sold at
retail,
down from 412 in March 2008, according to Spire LLC, which tracks shopping data
from more than 30 million U.S. households."
Thank God for mouthwash...
