GOP BUDGET TACTICS

According to Thursday’s Sacramento Bee, Senate Republican leader Dick Ackerman has a new Republican budget strategy – hold out this year because a long fight could benefit Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's political position in a special election.

When Republicans claimed Democrats were discussing a budget holdout – the exact same thing Ackerman is suggesting today – during the impasse in 2003, the GOPers had this to say:

"Their intention is to destroy the state of California and its financial base," said Assembly Minority Leader Dave Cox of Fair Oaks. "They intend to hold up the budget."

Assemblyman Tony Strickland, R-Moor Park (Ventura County), said the Democrats are putting "politics before people."
San Francisco Chronicle (July 22, 2003)

Assembly Budget Committee Vice Chairman John Campbell (R-Irvine) –
"It sounded like they were hoping to create a crisis at some point to further their political gains in other areas," he said. "I thought that was outrageous."
Los Angeles Times (July 22, 2003)

Do you think we will hear same outrage from Campbell and crew today? Don’t hold your breath…