The Democrats in the Legislature did what they had to do, and passed the only budget that the governor would agree to. But Jerry’s Budget — and this will always be Jerry’s budget, since he’s the one who insisted on the terms — is pretty bad news.
I could have told the governor six months ago that he’d never, ever get Republican support for tax extensions. I could have told him that things are very different from the 1970s, when he was last governor. Back then, Republicans were actually interested in governing and would work with Democrats. Now they’re only interested in obstructing — and in sticking to a “no taxes” pledge that has severely damaged the state.
But no: Jerry had to be Jerry, and veto the budget the Democrats passed the first time, because he still thought he’d get his way.
Now he has a budget that (a) won’t work unless the economy continues to pick up and (b) protects prisons at the expense of education.
Imagine: The Democratic governor of California saying that he is willing to cut a week out of the school year — but isn’t willing to make comparable cuts in the state prison system.
Oh, and guess what? It gives Republicans the ability to crow about how California didn’t need those tax extensions in the first place.
Way to go, Guv.