The tax hike laden California budget is proving to be a political land mine for Republicans and even Democrats: “With the GOP’s grass-roots ablaze in anger over taxes, Republican leaders are being forced to either come out against the initiatives or be driven from positions of power. Mr. Villines is lucky he only lost his leadership post. There are four recall efforts underway aimed at wayward Republicans. Assemblyman Anthony Adams is being targeted because he voted for the budget despite taking a no-tax pledge.”
“‘I was surprised by the number of people willing to go out and demonstrate in public against spending too much without the spark of tax increases. It’s a much more sophisticated, philosophical electorate than I had believed existed,’ said Grover Norquist, the veteran tax-cut crusader who runs Americans for Tax Reform.”