California still without a budget!

I for one understand standing one's ground based on principle. But holding the State of California hostage to prove a point is a stupid move. Our legislators are paid to pass laws including the state budget. They are VERY late. In fact, California is the only state to still have no budget adopted.

California's 2/3's passage rule is partially to blame. It gives the minority party so much power when it comes to the budget. It warps democracy to favor the few over the wishes of the many.

There are 15 members of the Senate's Republican caucus. They had agreed to vote for the budget only if a majority of the caucus voted for it. One Republican Senator did vote for the budget already. One of the hold outs (Bob Margett, the school district I work for is in his service area) had this to say:

"Why would somebody abandon a deal, a handshake, a commitment that was made?" Margett said. "Is he going to be admonished? Is he going to be reprimanded? Is he going to be kicked out? Is he not going to get any money for his reelection? There's a lot of things that could happen." (L.A Times, GOP holdouts on state budget cite principles, August 18, 2007)

Wow... a threat against a legislator actually doing their job.

If only the Budget Accountability Act would have passed in 2004. First off we would have a state budget. Secondly, these legislators would be missing a day of pay for each day the state budget is late.

What do you think?