In a move that could very well make him an outcast in his own party, Orange County Sen. Lou Correa of Santa Ana abstained from voting on the Democrats’ budget proposal to raise the sales tax this morning, dropping the plan three votes shy of passing.

The proposal would have failed anyway, it needed two Republican votes that were not there, but Correa’s move is significant because it shows that even Democrats aren’t united in raising taxes.

It also shows that Correa can keep a promise: he vowed in his 2006 election to the state Senate that he would not raise taxes.

However, it could come at a steep cost. When Democrat Assemblywoman Nicole Parra did not vote for a tax increase in the Assembly earlier this month, she was swiftly thrown out of her Capitol office and into one across the street.

And Correa already has been on the outs with Senate Leader Don Perata. Perata locked Correa out of his Capitol office last year for attending an unapproved fundraiser.

Technically speaking, the roll call on the vote is still open, which means Correa could, in theory, change his vote, but don’t count on it. Orange County Republicans have been watching him closely to see if he would vote for the tax increase. He defeated former Assemblywoman Lynn Daucher by the narrowest of margins in 2006 — if he flip-flopped on taxes, he could face a recall or a huge contest come re-election time.

I tried to talk to Correa about his vote when the Senate took a break for lunch a few minutes ago, but he said, “Not right now.” I can only imagine the pressure he’s under from Democrats. I watched Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas, D-Los Angeles, talk to Correa for several minutes after he cast his vote. I can only imagine what Ridley-Thomas said to him.

Posted in: State budget |

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