To the surprise of not a single observer, Gov. Brown announced at a 3 o’clock press conference what may have been the equivalent of Lee’s surrender at the Appomattox Court House — declaring that he would ram a Democrat-only budget through the Legislature since he has not been able to recruit one Republican in either chamber to approve his tax hikes since taking office Jan. 4.
The vote making such a lopsided budget official is expected tomorrow.
Republicans rejected his plans to kill Friday’s deadlines when the vehicle and sales taxes are due to expire. The GOP also batted down Mr. Brown’s scheme to approve a special taxes-centric election in November and refused his plan to institute a bridge tax between July 1 and Election Day.
The governor said he is counting on windfall tax collections to brace the current flat-tire budget.
