Blame the minority

California is looking at a huge deficit for next year, $15 billion according to the LAT but $20 billion according to other sources. California's Democratic legislators say it's the Republican minority's fault. But Republicans in the California legislature are powerless. The legislature is controlled by Democrats.

The Democrats want to raise taxes, by $11 billion according to the LAT. But they need Republican votes to do so. Republicans want something in return. They want relaxed environmental restrictions and workplace rules. Democrats consider such bargaining undignified. Republicans should be more public spirited, they say, more concerned about California's financial welfare. But Democrats got themselves into the situation they're in, and got the state into the situation it's in, without Republican help. Let them solve the problem unassisted.