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DeVore calls GOP leader to resign. Enough to swing the vote?
February 14th, 2009, 8:20 am · 5 Comments · posted by Mark Landsbaum
Irvine-basesd Assemblyman Chuck DeVore gave his own party’s leadership an ultimatum: if you support the $14 billion in new taxes and $10 billion in new borrowing and you must resign.
L.A. radio station KFI reported that the “leaked” e-mail was sent Friday morning from DeVore to Republican Assembly Leader Mike Villines. This morning DeVore confirmed it for us. He essentially told Villines the proposed budget deal is a disaster, and that Villines should resign his leadership position if he intends to support it:
“If not, the entire (Republican) membership will be collateral damage and will deserve the drubbing we get a the polls. I may be wrong, I may also be pissing you off, though I think I know you well enough, to think not as I am trying to give you the advice I’m supposed to give.”
DeVore delivered his ultimatum via e-mail Friday to Villines, who has brought the horrendous tentative budget deal to his Republican caucus membership for an up or down vote this morning.
Coincidentally (or perhaps more than a coincidence?) three Republicans - precisely the number needed for passage - are the only ones not to go on record so far opposed to the compromise with Democrats, who control both houses of the Legislature.
To his credit, in his e-mail DeVore took a principled stand against the package of tax hikes and borrowing to cope with a projected $42 billion deficit over the next 17 months.
Here’s a transcription of the guts of the e-mail:
“Number one, I think the proposed tax increases will be profoundly unpopular, especially with our base.
Number two, the tax rate increases will not generate the anticipated revenue and may even cause revenue to decrease since the California economy is reching the tipping point versus neighboring states
Number three, the spending limit will not pass since voters will not qagree to tax themselves for three additional years.
Number four, two years of higher tax rates with reduced revenue and little in the way of real systemic spending reductions will mean that we will face the music again in mid-year 2010, just in time to impact the election.
Number five, leadership’s complicity in the deal contaminates the entire caucus and party resulting in very bad consequences to us and it makes us all look like we gave in to a bad deal.
Six, lastly and this is the tough part, although I’m sure you’ve thought about this, if this deal goes through and you and dave (cogdill) continue it will show the voters that the caucus tacitly agreed with this deal. For that reason, for the caucus, for the party and the upcoming election if this is the final deal and you believe it to be good though I can’t see it then I think you need to resign or be replaced the day of the vote.
I’m giving a speech at Auburn? at noon, and speaking again at 3:30. If you wish to talk you have my number. Sent via Blackberry by AT&T”
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Devore never chastised the republican leaders Villines or Cogdill in public for blessing these new tax increases. He has never called on the other republicans to censure them or to oust them. Isn’t it strange that John and Ken just happened to receive this ‘intercepted’ email about 2 hours after they exposed Devore as a good friend of Villines and one who was appointed as a party spokeshole after Villines got his assembly leadership position? Devore has been on the John and Ken show many times. Devore has never condemned those other republicans who have indicated a willingness to vote for big tax increases on the public while corporations get nice tax cuts and we do nothing to stop the $13 billion spent on illegal foreigners and the millions spent on Octo-mom and her ilk. Never! No, now a strange email is ‘intercepted’ only in the final hour before the vote! ha! Do you really think we’re that stupid out here? Now Devore is going to claim that his hands are clean! ha! Not buying the horsedarkey. Sorry. There are some thinking adults out here who read between the lines. Devore apparently sent an email to John and Ken confirming that it was, in fact, his email immediately after John read it on the air. Why didn’t he call in, go on the air and say this? Now that he intends to run for the senate he has become a regular on their show claiming to be a friend of the taxpayer and holding true to republican principles. Why the email? Why doesn’t he publicly condemn his tax supporting colleagues and call on the party to censure them? Why the subterfuge? Why are loyal republican taxpayers being betrayed? Why, why, why?
Looks like Chuck fatfingered the email; I never want to hear complaints about my typos again.
Chuck is also a skilled PR professional; his comms director heads the OC PRSA chapter. With Chuck’s command of new technologies, it’s difficult to believe this email wasn’t deliberately leaked
I do not care a wit about Devore’s political ambitions. However I do agree with his opinion on this one.
The passing of this disastrous budget with the complicity of a few Republicans will mean the end of the Republicans in CA for years. People will just not vote and the Dems, along with the newly minted Mexican immigrant voting will make CA another Massachusetts.
The Republicans still have not gotten their hands around what makes the Dems so successful, unity. When Willie Brown ran the Assembly, after taking it from the Republicans, the Dems always voted as a block.
Republicans never have gotten that lesson.
This is why we know for certain that there are two parties in CA; The Stupid and The Evil.
and the ’stupid’ and the ‘evil’ work in unison to hose you under the guise of being your protectors and servants. Hilarious.
we were betrayed by pete wilson with tax increases during the last big recession of 92/93, or around that time.
and it took CA years to see recovery.
looks to be more of the same,once again.