While North State districts voted conservatives into state offices last week, the trend was not common across California. A near record number of Democrats won election to the state legislature, giving their party a supermajority. They now have enough seats to accomplish just about anything on their agenda.
Republicans are they are worried about the super majority, saying democrats can run the state without much thought.
Republicans have not been this worried about a california legislature in over 120 years, when Dems last held a supermajority in 1883.
“So the 2/3 vote that they have been able to secure will be an invitation to taxing and spending and the citizens of california will be the ones to suffer,” Republican Assemblyman and Senator elect Jim Nielsen sounded off Friday afternoon. Worried that North State values will disappear from California.
“The majority will go on a spending spree. And what ever responsibility has been inculpated into the budget over the last few years, that will all be thrown in the waste basket,” said Nielsen.
Nielsen's not the only one who's concerned. Retired District 2 Assemblyman Dick Dickerson said today, this "Takes away any balance for the legislature... Democrats can run the state without much thought"
“I just hope that what is going to come out of this is that they learn to cooperate more,” said Maurice Johannessen, who served more than 20 years as a Republican in the legislature. He things a Democrat supermajority will lead to compromises by both parties.
“I do not think that it is going to create a disaster, some doomsday, it is not going to do that,” said Johannessen.
Johannessen says when he was in office, the parties cooperated to best serve the people of California
“We all got along fine, there was no big deal, we went out and drank together sometimes and had dinners together, but they don't do that anymore. Its almost like enemy camps, and I think that's going to be solved right now,” said Johannessen.
Former Assemblyman Stan Statham said a supermajority is "Not what a democracy should be… and the correct answer is always found somewhere in the middle."
