Did the Speaker fib about Governor’s stance on taxes?

June 18th, 2009, 10:28 am · 3 Comments · posted by BRIAN JOSEPH, Sacramento Correspondent

As I reported today, an hour before the Democrats held their press conference yesterday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke to reporters and said he would not sign any budget plan that includes a tax increase.

“I will without any doubt, veto it,” he said.

But then when reporters repeated this the Democratic leaders, Assembly Speaker Karen Bass said, “We met with him. That’s not the indication he gave us” and later added that the governor said he was “open” to working with the Democrats.

The indication here, of course, is that Bass is saying Schwarzenegger is open to negotiating on taxes, that the governor, in effect, lied to the media.

The governor’s people were not pleased about this.

I got a call this morning from Schwarzenegger’s communications director, Matt David, who said, “During the meeting with Senate Pro Tem (Darrell) Steinberg and Speaker Bass, the g0vernor was crystal clear he would not sign a budget with tax increases.”

So, is it Bass who is lying? Or is this all just a big misunderstanding?

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Shingo says:

June 18, 2009 at 4:52 pm

Don’t know who is lying but if taxes are not raised then California will make history and go bankrupt. We will be the only modern state to not care for its poor, children, and elderly. The blame will go to however votes against those people. If its the GOP then that’s who the people will blame. If its the the Dems then that’s who the people will blame. What does matter is that the Gov, the GOP, and the Dems need to quit fighting like children and come up with a workable plan or California will tank. If California tanks then no matter WHO caused it … it will be Schwarzenegger who will go down in history.

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TIM NGUYEN says:

June 19, 2009 at 4:58 am

BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA WANTS TO TURN AMERICA INTO ANOTHER BANKRUPT SOCIOLIST CALIFORNIA!!!

No surprise that California, one of the richest but also most liberal state, especially in fiscal term, is the first state to go bankrupt. Now Californian socialist model with its highest tax rate, strictest enviromental protection rules, and very generous welfare and health care systems is copied by Obama administration with its ambitious, costly health care reform for everybody including 12 milliions illegal immigrants who would be naturalized under Obama immigration reform.

GPS says:

June 21, 2009 at 9:38 am

I cannot believe there are still many in california who think we need to raise taxes. I bet those dont pay a penny in taxes. I pray california go bankrupt and throw out all those defined benifit plans to state employees, prison gaurds and support for illegal aliens,

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