California Democrats Gather To Celebrate, Strategize
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- California Democrats are in a joyful mood after sweeping all nine statewide offices last year and picking up a seat in the state Assembly, despite two bruising, expensive contests.
So they can be expected to spend time patting themselves on the back at their annual convention in Sacramento this weekend, their first statewide meeting since the November elections.
But governing has proven harder than winning elections.
After signing more than $11 billion in spending cuts, Gov. Jerry Brown has been unable to win the two GOP votes in each house he needs to bring his proposed tax extensions to voters -- a key part of his strategy for closing the remaining $15.4 billion deficit.
The party also faces uncertainty over the new legislative and congressional district maps being drawn by an independent redistricting committee.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
