The California budget deficit could now reach $28 billion over the next 18 months due to estate tax cuts proposed by Obama. These cuts will cost California $2.7 billion in expected revenue, as it raises the excluded amount from $8 million to $10 million, and lowers the tax rate from 55% to 35% on estates.

Faced with the two charging rhinos of the California budget crisis, these rhinos being higher taxes and fewer services, governor-elect Jerry Brown apparently will choose to adroitly sidestep them, allowing them to go charging into the laps of you, the voter, who will then decide what to do.

The partisan lines in the debate over extending Bush's tax cuts are clear at this point: (most) Democrats want tax cuts for the middle and lower class, but not for the wealthy- the top two percent of income earners in the country. Republicans on the other hand, want tax cuts for everyone, including the wealthy, no exceptions.