www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2003/07/22/MN309441.DTLSacramento -- The state's budget crisis took a surreal turn Monday after a frank discussion by a group of Democrats on the budget and its impact on their re- election was accidentally broadcast throughout legislative and reporters' offices.
Members of the Assembly Democrats' progressive caucus were heard making candid, if not intemperate, statements such as one by Los Angeles Assemblyman Fabian Nunez that they may want to "precipitate a crisis" over the budget this year. That might persuade voters to lower the two-thirds vote threshold needed to pass a spending plan, he reasoned.
"It seems to me if there's going to be a crisis, the crisis should be this year," Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, D-Los Angeles, said during the meeting. "What you do is you show people that you can't get to this without a 55 percent vote."
The unintentional broadcast was interrupted when someone informed the group that a microphone was on. "Oh s--," Goldberg said as the sound was cut.
Beyond its clutzy execution, the meeting suggested a split among Democrats in the Assembly over how best to confront the GOP's refusal to support any budget that contains a tax increase.
Goldberg said after the meeting that they were simply discussing issues and that the 10 members came to no agreement on how they would vote.
Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson, D-Los Angeles, downplayed the meeting, saying politics have not influenced his work on the budget. Wesson did not attend the caucus.
"We have stayed unified for the most part," he said of the Assembly Democrats. "I would hope that does not change."
QUICK RESPONSE FROM GOPRepublican staffers were quick to spread word, providing transcripts and instant rebuttals.
"Their intention is to destroy the state of California and its financial base," said Assembly Minority Leader Dave Cox of Fair Oaks. "They intend to hold up the budget."
The state is three weeks late in passing a budget to close a $38 billion deficit. Child care centers, trial courts and some highway construction projects are not receiving funds.
Legislators have been unable to reach agreement on how to pay for a bond to cover $10.7 billion of the shortfall. Democrats want to see a temporary half- cent sales tax increase, but the GOP has refused to consider any tax increase.
Senate leaders have been working on a plan that would not contain a sales tax but would cut another $1 billion in state spending. They hope to reach an agreement by either late this week or early next week.
In the meeting, Goldberg said making severe cuts now would be better for members who are facing competitive races next year.
"I think there's going to be a crisis, and the question is whether it should be this year or next year in terms of members of our house who want to get re-elected or in terms of members of our house who want to move to the Senate," she said. "Personally, I think the crisis is better off (happening) this year."
Assemblyman Tony Strickland, R-Moor Park (Ventura County), said the Democrats are putting "politics before people."
"They are willing to go on with crisis to try to lower the two-thirds threshold," he said.