Hey, kids! Let's make the budget crisis worse!

Rather disturbing news out of California today, if this article is right. Apparently, several Democrats were caught on an open mike talking about prolonging the California budget crisis as a way of showing people just how bad the situation could be, thus making it easier to raise taxes later.

Members of a liberal Democratic group met behind closed doors Monday unaware that a microphone was broadcasting their words throughout the Capitol on about 500 "squawk boxes" that serve legislative offices, lobbyists and reporters.
Several members were heard speculating that a prolonged budget crisis might improve the 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.

Of course, both sides are spinning this just as fast as they can. The Democratic Assembly Speaker played it off as a "bull session", saying:

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

and Democrat Jackie Goldberg is reported to have said that her comments

were part of a larger discussion about whether it would be better to make deeper cuts this year -- as Republicans have proposed. The idea, she said, is give taxpayers a taste of how bad things would be without a tax increase.

Now, I will say, I think it is possible that the comments made by the Democrats could, potentially, have been taken out of context.

For example, I know there have been times when, feeling very frustrated, I will think or comment about manipulating a situation so that it will make a point to my hubby and hopefully make it easier for me to get my way. Right now, I'm on a campaign for us to get cellphones, primarily so that it's easier for me to get a hold of him when he's out shopping and such. One of the potential benefits I've mentioned to him is that with a cell phone, if I forget to mention I need him to pick up something while he's at the store, I could call him and just tell him, rather than having to wait for him to come home and then ask him to go back out again if it's something I need right away.

I have to admit, the thought has occured to me to perhaps "accidentially-on-purpose" forget to mention a few items here and there so that he'll see the value that much more easily. Yet, while I'll think of such things and even give voice to them on occasion, I don't actually go through with them. It's a good way to release tension, amusing to think about in a "serves him right" kind of way, but I know better than to actually try it.

It's possible that the Democrats discussion was along the same lines - a suggestion that makes for a good way to blow off some steam, but which wouldn't actually be acted on.

Of course, they may also have been entirely serious. I wasn't there, I haven't heard the tapes. And if, in fact, they were serious, then I'd actually have to [gasp] agree with the Republican Assembly Leader, Dave Cox:

"Their behavior is dangerous, hurtful and frankly mean-spirited," said Cox.

Posted by thorswitch at July 22, 2003 10:56 PM | TrackBack