In the Assembly, the mood ranged from comic opera to melodrama as staff members scurried to produce copies of more than a dozen bills that made up the package.
While a choir sang Christmas carols in the first-floor Capitol Rotunda, sergeants-at-arms distributed copies of the bills just minutes before they were taken up, a fact that drew complaints from Republicans.
"This language is still hot from the press," complained Assembly GOP leader Mike Villines of Clovis. "We can't even read what's in half of this."
Freshman Assemblywoman Norma Torres, D-Pomona, grew teary-eyed as she explained how she deeply regretted having to vote for cuts in education and social service programs.
"It means that people will go hungry," she said. "This is not about Republicans and not about Democrats. It's about people … people have needs and goddamn it, we are here to answer those needs."
Waving a copy of the state constitution, Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, R-Irvine, thrice challenged the ruling by Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Lori Saldaña, D-San Diego, that the tax bills did not require a two-thirds vote.
"No amount of histrionics or verbal gymnastics can obscure the fact that what we are about to do is violate our oath of office," DeVore declaimed.
Democrats, who hold a 51-29 majority in the house, rejected his challenges.
Debate was more civil in the state Senate. Democrats portrayed their plan as an inventive solution in a desperate time. They said Republican alternatives to raise revenues, such as asking voters to raid other dedicated state funds, were insufficient.
"Ask yourself this: Is there any other credible, politically acceptable plan put forward by anyone to make an $18 billion-plus dent in California's budget deficit?" asked Steinberg. "I think the answer is no."
Republicans accused Democrats of subverting the will of voters and setting a historic precedent for raising taxes in California, calling the maneuver "stunningly cynical."
"This is a very historic day," said Senate Republican leader Dave Cogdill of Modesto. "Certainly we've been a long time coming to this point where we have reached such frustration with the laws of this state, with the people and their will as it relates to how taxes should be raised, that you've decided to take an unprecedented step."
Call Steve Wiegand, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 321-1076.
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