Democrats get supermajority in Legislature (California)
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
California Democrats appear to have picked up a supermajority in both houses of the state Legislature Tuesday night, a surprise outcome that gives the party the ability to unilaterally raise taxes and leaves Republicans essentially irrelevant in Sacramento.
Democrats were long expected to gain a two-thirds advantage in the Senate, but Assembly Speaker John Pérez had downplayed expectations that the party could win a supermajority in the lower house. The party's apparent capture of 54 seats in the 80-member Assembly and 27 in the 40-member Senate would mark the first time in nearly 80 years that one party controlled two-thirds of both houses, according to Senate President pro tem Darrell Steinberg.
While several legislative races in swing districts are still close - including an Assembly race in the Central Valley and another in Orange County - both Pérez and Steinberg said Wednesday that they are confident Democrats' slim leads will hold.
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A two-thirds majority would not only hand Democrats strong control of the executive and legislative branches, but give them far more power, including the ability to override vetoes by Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown, bypass legislative rules and deadlines and put constitutional reforms before voters.
When combined with the passage of Proposition 30, the governor's budget-balancing tax measure, the results offer lawmakers "a great opportunity to begin a new chapter in California," Steinberg said. He called a supermajority "a tremendous responsibility," and one that is "humbling to have."
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Democrats-get-supermajority-in-Legislature-4015861.php
My county not only voted to raise statewide taxes, but voted to raise county taxes.
Californians voting for Democrats and taxes to improve the things we all share.
I think we're turning a corner.
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I remember the day when property taxes were stopped at 1%. I even got a refund check. I hope those elected people change the 2/3 majority to just plane MAJORITY to get thing done. The GOP who are the dodo have an agenda of doing NOTHING but complaining.
It still amazes me that California could be a major economic world power. We have great weather, oil, agriculture, educational institutes, world class people, and a good future. Because we are the LEFT COAST everything positive is discounted. The GOP made sure many of the military bases were closed years ago, but there are a few big military bases and many military members are from California.
