Once again, State Sen. Don Perata emerges from budget negotiations to announce a compromise that gives significant concessions to the Republican Party and their governor. But even that may not be enough as Assembly Yacht Party leader Mike Villines speaks skeptically of Perata's deal. Meanwhile the Blogosphere is raging against the Democratic machine for accepting a Spending Cap and organized labor thus far is eerily quiet.

Gathering from loose reports, the deal involves a combustible mixture of a temporary one-cent sales tax increase which would later revert to a permanent sales tax decrease; contributions to a rainy day fund for the next time our budget is in deficit; either a hard or soft spending cap; and powers granted to the governor to cut spending when revenues fall short, given California is the only state in the union that creates an annual budget in the middle of a calendar year.

The current news headline is that Perata is waiting on the Republicans to agree to the very concessions they've been holding the state's budget hostage too. But Villines is not biting and the governor's ability to get his party to come to the table may very well define his administration.

Sacramento Bee reports:

• Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines, R-Clovis, said Perata overstated the extent to which his negotiated plan would blunt future spending. Though GOP lawmakers are open to concessions to Democrats if the budget includes a spending cap, Villines said Perata's negotiations with the governor have not accomplished that goal.
  
  "There is no spending cap," Villines said. "It'd be a phony cap, if anything. And I've seen it all. It's all for a rainy-day fund, which is a good start. But it's not a hard spending cap that would solve the problem. You can characterize it anyway you want, but it is what it is."

This deal still appears shaky and no other members of the "Big 5" government leaders have come forward to verify the proposed compromise. Still, as Perata reports it, this could be very troubling. If it is true, we must say the Democrats caved under pressure and potentially will cut the morale of Democratic activists and union members across the state.

As I commented on David Dayen's excellent Calitics post, if Perata's deal comes to fruition, then I, like many grassroots democratic activists and union members who fought side by side with Democratic Leaders will have wasted an entire Autumn season campaigning against Arnold's Special Election in 2005.

If they go through with this deal, than they cannot expect us to handily support their votes, initiatives or future elections.

Perata's Legal Defense Fund -- Out of the Question
Extending Term Limits for Themselves -- Fat Chance
Unlimited Casino Expansion w/o Workers Rights -- No Way
Meaningless Health Care Coverage Reforms -- Give me a Break

Fight your own wars. Change your party affiliation and go represent Republicans with integrity.