KANSAS, CALIFORNIA OR CONGRESS, THE GOP IS THE PARTY OF "NO"

We all know that not a single GOP member of the House of Representatives voted for the stimulus bill and that's got to be some kind of record. Not to be outdone, GOP state representatives have jumped on the "NO" bandwagon.

KANSAS:

Kan. suspends income tax refunds, may miss payroll
BY JEANNINE KORANDA
Eagle Topeka bureau
Posted on Mon, Feb. 16, 2009

TOPEKA - Income tax refunds and state employee paychecks could be late after Republican leaders and the Democratic governor clashed Monday over how to solve a cash-flow problem.

Republicans, who hold majorities in both chambers, blocked Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ proposal to borrow $225 million from healthy state funds to cover shortages in accounts used to meet the state’s payroll and issue tax refunds.

CALIFORNIA:

California, Nearly Broke, Edges Nearer Brink
By JENNIFER STEINHAUER
Published: February 16, 2009
NY Times

The roots of California’s inability to address its budget woes are statutory and political. The state, unlike most others, requires a two-thirds majority vote in the Legislature to pass budgets and tax increases.

In a Legislature dominated by Democrats, some of whom lean far to the left, leaders have been unable to gather enough support from Republican lawmakers...

The Senate Republican leader, Dave Cogdill, said he thought he had all the votes needed to get the deal done in each house. But on Sunday, two Republican senators — Dave Cox, who was originally thought to be the last vote needed, and Abel Maldonado, whom Mr. Schwarzenegger had been able to woo into voting against his party in the past — said they would reject the plan.