by EmilyDu [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

From the Courage Campaign

The most extreme high priests of the tax cut cult operate right here in

California. Because Democrats do not hold a two-thirds majority in our

state legislature, a small minority of Republicans is able to hold

Californians hostage to a $20 billion state budget deficit, refusing to raise taxes on the super-rich.

It gets worse. Much worse. While California's future is being put in grave jeopardy, the tax cut cult is refusing to close a tax loophole for yacht and private jet owners.

Schools closing. Social services slashed to the bone. And right-wing Republicans are letting the uber-wealthy off tax-free on yacht and private jet purchases. It's no wonder the California Republican Party has been re-branded as the "Yacht Party" by the netroots.

To increase the pressure on Republicans in Sacramento to close this

yacht tax loophole, we need to make this "Yacht Party" brand stick. That's

why the Courage Campaign and California Nurses Association have just

teamed up to produce a new 60-second TV ad that strips naked the

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Legislative leaders have talked about a long hot summer in Sacramento, but I don't think this is what they meant. Check out the latest Courage Campaign "Yacht Party" ad below, but first, here's a letter from Arianna Huffington, including information on how you can get a rush autographed copy of Huffington's latest book, "Right is Wrong":

Dear Friend,

The tax cut cult.

That's what I call Republicans in "Right is Wrong", the new book I just wrote about how the right-wing lunatic fringe has hijacked America.

Unfortunately, the most extreme high priests of the tax cut cult operate right here in California. Because Democrats do not hold a two-thirds majority in our state legislature, a small minority of Republicans is able to hold Californians hostage to a $20 billion state budget deficit, refusing to raise taxes on the super-rich.

It gets worse. Much worse. While California's future is being put in grave jeopardy, the tax cut cult is refusing to close a tax loophole for yacht and private jet owners.
Schools closing. Social services slashed to the bone. And right-wing Republicans are letting the uber-wealthy off tax-free on yacht and private jet purchases. It's no wonder the California Republican Party has been re-branded as the "Yacht Party" by the netroots.

read more »

by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

The budget fight has touched just about every single person with an interest in the fiscal policy of the state and that includes strippers, porn stars and others in the adult entertainment industry.  The Democrats are trying to find ways to raise revenue and avoid having to cut even deeper than they already have into essential programs and education funding.  That means "sin taxes" and other sales taxes and fees. LAT:

As state leaders hunt for politically palatable solutions to the swelling budget shortfall, some Democrats are proposing unorthodox ways to generate cash.

Strip clubs, six-packs, grocery bags and iTunes downloads are all in their sights as alternatives to broad income or sales tax hikes. So are gas guzzlers and yachts -- and a tax loophole for criminals.

Despite tough odds of overcoming an oath signed by their Republican colleagues to stop any tax hikes, Democratic lawmakers seem confident that their ideas will carry the day. They predict the public won't stand for painful cuts to schools and healthcare to close a shortfall the governor now pegs as high as $20 billion, and say anti-tax forces will ultimately have to accept that more revenue is needed to bring the state into the black.

This is nothing new.  We are roughly in the same place we were a few months ago, only the deficit is even larger. Flip it.

by David Dayen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

California Senate President pro Tem Don Perata issued a statement and took questions from reporters shortly after 5 p.m. today on the steps to the state Capitol. The Sacramento Bee has an article on this with a few more details. Sacramento sources indicated last week that the polling for the race was not too favorable for the recall succeeding.

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

The Courage Campaign's hilarious tv ad attacking Republican supporters for keeping open the yacht tax loophole apparently has gotten under the skin of one Assembly Republican, Sam Blakeslee of San Luis Obispo.
 
Blakeslee is complaining to the Sacramento Bee that he actually voted to close the loophole. Which he did before flip-flopping and voting against it when the Senate-approved bill arrived in the Senate.
 
Here's what the Courage Campaign's Rick Jacobs has to say about that:

"Mr. Blakeslee needs to decide whether he wants to be in 'solidarity' with the people of California or a small band of right-wing Republicans protecting the super-rich from paying sales taxes on yachts," said Rick Jacobs, founder and Chair of the Courage Campaign. "Until Mr. Blakeslee sides with the people, we will continue to brand him and his extremist Republican friends as the 'Yacht Party'."

"By voting for it before he voted against it, Mr. Blakeslee is standing in lockstep with the status quo on the votes that matter, blocking the Assembly from achieving a 2/3rds majority to close this appalling yacht tax loophole," said Jacobs. "Mr. Blakeslee, please vote your conscience, not your club membership."