Register reporter Lindsey Baguio had a fascinating story this weekend about thousands descending on a Fullerton bar to join show hosts John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou of KFI in a protest of the tax increases approved in Sacramento last month.
In her story, Baguio quotes a resident who mentions that she wants to recall her assemblyman, Mike Duvall, R-Yorba Linda (who, by the way, didn’t vote for the tax increase).
That sentiment isn’t rare these days. I’ve found several Web sites dedicated to recall of several Republican state lawmakers — regardless of their vote for the budget — including one to recall Assemblyman Jim Silva of Huntington Beach.
For those of you who have already forgotten, a total of six Republicans, three in the Assembly and three in the State Senate, broke with their colleagues and voted for the $12.5 billion in tax increases that were part of the budget fix.
Of those six, three have active Web sites pushing for their recall: State Sens. Roy Ashburn of Bakersfield and Abel Maldonado of Santa Maria and Assemblyman Anthony Adams of Hesperia.
The Recall Roy Ashburn site reports that on Saturday the senator was “served today in front of the KERN Radio studio just before his show. He was presented with the Notice of Intent to Circulate Recall Petitions! Our next step is to forward the Notice to the Secretary of State for review. Thanks everyone for your help in getting to this point.”
Given the GOP’s disdain for new taxes and that most Republican lawmakers sign pledges not to raise taxes, these recall efforts aren’t exactly surprising. But they’re not the only recalls in the works. I’ve found at least two site devoted to the recall for Republican Assemblymen who didn’t vote for the tax increases — Orange County reps Jeff Miller of Corona and Silva.(There’s also Facebook pages for Miller and Silva recalls.)
The beefs with Miller and Silva seem to have been sparked by the very talk show hosts who organized this weekend’s tax revolt in Fullerton — KFI’s John and Ken. The political shock jocks have led the charge to recall Assembly Republicans who refused to outst Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines, who broked the tax increase plan and voted for it.
You’ll recall that Senate Republicans ousted their leader, Dave Cogdill, for his role brokering the deal and that Orange County Assemblyman Chuck DeVore unsuccessfully tried to oust Villines.
I haven’t found any site dedicated to Duvall’s recall, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get nailed as well, because he broke with the GOP and voted for Maldonado’s controversial open primary measure.
No telling yet how successful these recalls efforts may be. But it’s fair to say John and Ken have emerged as powerful force in statewide GOP politics.
Hey good job,,,,,You should cover this more…
Good story!!!! As a lifetime Democrat….I was so happy to walk the mile from my car to the rally. I had two goals in mind. To sign the paperwork to recall Jeff Miller and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger …..enough is enough!!!!
The state budget was the final straw for me. I will never vote Republican or Democrat again. Unless it is the Presidential race. Thank you John and Ken for heading this tax revolt.
All the GOP apparently knew about the tax “deal.” Thee xarefully planned who could vote for the tax deal, and the rest could lie to their supporters. In other words, they no longer care for the tax payers, only their own position and benefits. In effect, no one represents the tax payers now. Only the tax receivers are well represented. How can this be? The republicans who participated in this charade should come clean now, ask that their lies be forgiven, or else they need to be replaced in the primary. If they are comfortable lieing, I doubt that they can be trusted in the future. Heads on a stick is well deserved IMHO.
I ask any taxpayer that will read what I have to say to stand up and make your voice heard. The State of California is imposing the largest tax increase in the history of the United States. More taxes will come soon, if you are not registered to vote, please do so! Encourage others to do the same. Then vote NO ON 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E
I am too much of a wus to advocate anything illegal however I would love to see all of our state’s elected officials assassinated.
The efforts to recall these thieves are valiant but let’s face facts.
The majority of people in Cawlyfornia (as Arnie calls it) are sheep.
If Arnie and the Dems raised the sales tax to 15% and the income tax to 20% the Cawlyfornia sheeple would just baa with alacrity.