The Politics Behind the Republican Budget Blockade

Why are legislative Republican leaders holding out on this years budget? Because they care about the state's spending? Because they worry about future deficits? Guess again. It's because the GOP leaders in the Assembly and Senate are afraid of losing their jobs.
 
In the Senate, Republican Leader Dick Ackerman has been hanging on to his post by a single vote or two for the past year. Senators George Runner, Dave Cogdill, and Jim Battin are among those who have been eyeing his post.
 
These hard-right Republican senators coveting his job have been laying in wait for Ackerman to fold early in the budget talks. So, as a result, Ackerman has to talk tough to hang onto his job, or else he'll be spending lots more time on his yacht.
 
Ackerman is under immense pressure to show his caucus he can be as mean-spirited as they are. And that's no easy task. The GOP Senate is dominated by anti-tax conservatives who despise the Governor. Two weeks ago, the ultra-right Senate GOP flashed its colors by tanking a bill that would have provided transitional housing for foster kids -- even though Assembly Republicans had unanimously approved it and it had the support of Gov. Schwarzenegger. That's the crowd that Ackerman is dealing with.
 
On the Assembly Republican side, freshman GOP leader Mike Villines faces the same dilemma. The only reason that Villines is heading the Assembly GOP caucus is that his predecessor was seen by his caucus as coddling Democrats by making deals on an on-time, balanced budget and infrastructure bonds. Villines needs to have blood on his sword from the budget talks or he too fears he'll be booted from his post. But Villines is constantly looking over his shoulder for a possible challenge, and the GOP Assembly Caucus is said to be restless about Villines first-time performance in budget negotiations, as he continues to hide behind Dick Ackerman's skirt. Unlike recent Assembly Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, Villines doesn't seem to be able to understand how to make a deal for the best interests of his caucus. McCarthy was able to secure solid wins for Assembly Republicans instead of making philosophical statements that did nothing for individual members.
 
At this point, Villines and Ackerman, in bowing to the hard right fringes in their caucuses, have boxed themselves into a corner. They are demanding cuts -- but failing to put their lists on the table for scrutiny. They know the only way to achieve the budget savings they want is to screw school children. And they know even Schwarzenegger won't go there.
 
It could be a long, hot summer as Democrats and the Governor try to deal with the internal politics of the legislative GOP. And so far, both Ackerman and Villines are looking like the not-ready-for-prime-time players that have made the GOP the permanent minority in California.

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