As Assemblymember Houston Learned Yesterday, Rank-and-File Republicans are Starting to Turn on Legislative Republicans Over Budget Hostage Crisis

For those Republicans in the Assembly and Senate with further political ambitions, you might want to take notes. Here's the Contra Costa Times' Josh Richman:

"Republican and Democratic members of the “Al-Costa Budget Coalition” -- self-described as a group of more than 40 schools and nonprofits serving the elderly, people with disabilities, families with health problems and other residents of Contra Costa County and the Tri-Valley area -- met this morning with Assemblyman Guy Houston, R-Livermore, to urge a resolution to the state budget impasse."

You see, the state budget isn't an abstract document. By holding it hostage, you directly harm those who rely on such basic services as public schools, health clinics, and nursing homes, and believe it or not, that list includes plenty of Republicans. So while I understand your donor base resides in the Country Club for Growth, many of your voters don't see the wisdom in cutting $5 billion from education or denying elderly Californians access to In Home Supportive Services. But don't take my word for it. Here's one such Republican:

Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District board member Bill Morrison: "I’m a fiscally conservative Republican, but I cannot see any way out of this big hole we are in without some reasonable tax increases."

And here's another:

Mt. Diablo Education Association President Mike Noce: "Assemblymember Houston has to represent his constitutents, and polls show that the majority of the people in this district support new revenues."

Houston had the unfortunate task of running for Contra Costa County Supervisor (he lost) while simultaneously being a member of an Assembly caucus that has overreached in its rhetoric and backed itself into a corner from which there is no easy escape. To accept modest tax increases now would be completely antithetical to the hard-line rhetoric that the caucus has utilized for months. But no acceptable budget can be drafted that doesn't include modest tax increases, so the record-setting budget standoff continues without abatement.

If this thing has to be settled by the voters of California, expect Republican Assemblymember Greg Aghazarian, who's running to replace outgoing Democratic Senator Mike Machado, and possibly Senator Tom McClintock, who's running to replace disgraced Rep. John Doolittle, to be among the first casualties. Grover Norquist might not give two hoots about schools and health care, but many Republicans in our state are far less ideological. Indeed, the better question is, 'How much longer will they remain Republicans?'

The photo included in this post is Assemblymember Houston, apparently feeling the heat, tearing down a sign that reads, "Thank you for your support against Democrat tax increases."

This post initially incorrectly suggested that Guy Houston was still running for Contra Costa County Supervisor. He in fact lost his election in June.

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