Open microphone catches California Democrats talking about prolonging budget crisis

Tuesday, July 22, 2003

(07-22) 14:55 PDT SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) --

Unaware that a live microphone was broadcasting their words around the Capitol, Assembly Democrats meeting behind closed doors debated prolonging California's budget crisis for political gain.

Members of the coalition of liberal Democrats talked about slowing progress on the budget as a means of increasing pressure on Republicans.

A microphone had been left on during the closed meeting Monday, and the conversation was transmitted to about 500 "squawk boxes" that enable staff members, lobbyists and reporters to listen in on legislative meetings.

Some members of the group, including Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, said if the budget crisis were extended, it could improve chances for a ballot initiative that would make it easier for the Democrats to raise taxes by lowering the threshold for passage from two-thirds to 55 percent.

"No one is running" for re-election, she said, according to a transcript made by Republicans. "And maybe you end up better off than you would have, and maybe you don't. But what you do is show people that you can't get to this without a 55 percent vote."

Assembly Republican Leader Dave Cox said that he was disappointed that Democrats would consider using the budget crisis to their political advantage.

Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson, a Democrat, tried to brush aside criticism of the meeting, calling it a "bull session" that didn't have much significance.

"For anyone, Democrat or Republican, to think there is some political advantage in this crisis, I think they are wrong," he said.

Goldberg said her comments were part of a larger discussion about whether it would be better to make deeper cuts this year to give taxpayers a taste of how bad things would be without a tax increase.

"It meant whether or not we do the things this year or next year that let the public understand how serious the situation is," Goldberg said.


Just goes to show that politicians are dirty dirty dirty dirty dirty!!

___________________
Retro ...

ugh, i can never decide if it's worse to actually know the awful truth or just to assume that it's bad. there is something terrible about having your suspicions confirmed

Damn that's just wrong.

Hehe the LA times article goes more in depth

quote:

After about 90 minutes, a staffer interrupted to alert lawmakers that their meeting was not private at all: "Excuse me, guys, you can be heard outside," an unidentified staff member said. "Oh [expletive], [expletive]," Goldberg said. "The squawk box is on," the staff member said. "You need to turn it off right there." "How could that happen?" Goldberg said.

http://www.latimes.com/news/yahoo/l...wsaol-headlines

Guesses as to what she cursed? My guess is "Oh fucking, shit!"

___________________
Retro ...

A: Those politicans, like all politicans, are dirty. Politics is a sick game, and only the bottom of the barrel can play it.

B: How stupid can you get?

___________________

It has to start somewhere,
It has to start sometime,
What better place then here?
What better time than now?
--Rage Against the Machine

Thats so f&cked up!

___________________
Upcoming:

Michael Andrews Feat. Gary Jules - Mad World (Grayed Out Mix)

republicans have done worse

___________________

[ Romans Chapter 1, Verse 6: And you are included among those Gentiles who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ. ]

quote:

Originally posted by fuct4less republicans have done worse

You my friend, are very naive if you think democrats are above it all or are any better . And you're also the first person to bring partisan politics into the discussion.

For example, should we even begin to touch upon the democrat slander campaign and interference in the Republican primaries to ensure that the stronger candidate, Riordan, did not win so Davies could ultimately win the election, hmmmm? Now what do I know about politics, but that seems pretty dirty.

___________________
Retro ...

Last edited by occrider on Jul-24-2003 at 13:44

This just lends more credence to my theory that the Democrats are just wannabe Republicans without balls. While the Republicans expose their evil schemes for all to see (just log onto the PNAC website) the Democrats do all their shady scheming behind closed doors - literally in this case.

Howard Dean's the exception of course. The man's a saint and should be elected into power immediately.

___________________
http://eschatonnow.blogspot.com/

quote:

Originally posted by Renegade This just lends more credence to my theory that the Democrats are just wannabe Republicans without balls. While the Republicans expose their evil schemes for all to see (just log onto the PNAC website) the Democrats do all their shady scheming behind closed doors - literally in this case. Howard Dean's the exception of course. The man's a saint and should be elected into power immediately.

Yes, I most certainly don't want big government as democrats seem to subscribe to, and I hate the social conservative edge of republicans .... I think I'm turning libertarian .

However, I wouldn't affiliate the republican party with PNAC. There are widely varying degrees of republicans, Cheney, Wolfowitz, etc., merely occupy one extreme of that party.

___________________
Retro ...

quote:

Originally posted by occrider You my friend, are very naive if you think democrats are above it all or are any better . And you're also the first person to bring partisan politics into the discussion. For example, should we even begin to touch upon the democrat slander campaign and interference in the Republican primaries to ensure that the stronger candidate, Riordan, did not win so Davies could ultimately win the election, hmmmm? Now what do I know about politics, but that seems pretty dirty.

Yeah, that was pretty damn dirty. But needless to say, Repubs. play quite dirty as well - they may just have a little more common sense to turn the damn mic off!

___________________
Whence September dusk grows crisper still,
with leaves all crimson conquered,
I yearn to shout,
and dance about,
and stick pickles in my honker...

quote:

Originally posted by Renegade This just lends more credence to my theory that the Democrats are just wannabe Republicans without balls. While the Republicans expose their evil schemes for all to see (just log onto the PNAC website) the Democrats do all their shady scheming behind closed doors - literally in this case. Howard Dean's the exception of course. The man's a saint and should be elected into power immediately.

absolutly agree with that one... "A choice between two nightmares" --Joseph Conrad...

___________________
http://www.travelninja.com
------------------------------------