Suit Targets Democrats’ Budget Plan That Aimed To Sidestep Republicans
Opponents of a Democratic budget plan that aimed to increase revenue without a two-thirds majority vote is the subject of a lawsuit expected to be filed today, the Sacramento Bee's "Capitol Alert" reports (Goldmacher, "Capitol Alert," Sacramento Bee, 1/6).
As a step toward addressing the state budget deficit, the proposal would cut $7.3 billion from health care, schools and other programs and increase revenue by $9.3 billion through a series of maneuvers that would result in increases to some taxes and fees.Â
The plan centers on a legal distinction between taxes -- which require two-thirds legislative approval -- and fees -- which require a simple majority approval.Â
As the plan is crafted, Democratic legislative leaders believe it could be passed without votes from Republican legislators (California Healthline, 12/18/08).
Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, said that with the backing of Republican legislators his group would file a lawsuit challenging the legality of the Democratic proposal ("Capitol Alert," Sacramento Bee, 1/6).
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) threatened to veto the proposal because it does not include elements of his economic stimulus proposal.
Legal experts say it is unclear how a court would rule on the case, according to the Bee (Reese, Sacramento Bee, 1/6).
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