Dave Cogdill of Modesto, California has died.
He succumbed to pancreatic cancer. Indeed, it's an ugly way to die.
Despite the pure personal pain of a former legislator's death, the left-wing media is turning his demise into another paean to amoral compromise, a perverse strain of legislative betrayal endemic in Sacramento's legislative culture.
The Los Angeles Times reports:
Dave Cogdill, who paid a political price for his role in ending the
2009 budget crisis, dies at 66
2009 budget crisis, dies at 66
Dave Cogdill, a Central Valley Republican whose support for temporary
taxes during the state's economic meltdown ended his legislative career, died
Sunday after battling pancreatic cancer, his family said. He was 66.
taxes during the state's economic meltdown ended his legislative career, died
Sunday after battling pancreatic cancer, his family said. He was 66.
A real estate appraiser in Modesto, Cogdill served three terms in the
state Assembly, and served as assessor of Stanislaus County after his departure
from the Legislature. Since 2013, he has been the president and CEO of the
California Building Industry Assn.
state Assembly, and served as assessor of Stanislaus County after his departure
from the Legislature. Since 2013, he has been the president and CEO of the
California Building Industry Assn.
Notice that these California legislators are well-off in retirement, even though they sellout their constituents and the state for these budget "compromises."
"He selflessly dedicated his life to his family and
community," said his son, David Cogdill Jr., in an emailed statement about
his father's death. "Throughout his life, he made such a difference in the
lives of so many people."
community," said his son, David Cogdill Jr., in an emailed statement about
his father's death. "Throughout his life, he made such a difference in the
lives of so many people."
Too bad that he did not selfless devote himself to protecting the interests of the people who elected him.
Cogdill was less than a year into his tenure as Republican leader of
the state Senate when the state's fiscal crisis, exacerbated by the national
recession, forced lawmakers to consider a $42-billion deficit-reduction package
in February 2009. The proposal included
more than $14 billion in temporary taxes, embraced as a necessity by Democrats
and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger but angrily denounced by most Republicans.
the state Senate when the state's fiscal crisis, exacerbated by the national
recession, forced lawmakers to consider a $42-billion deficit-reduction package
in February 2009. The proposal included
more than $14 billion in temporary taxes, embraced as a necessity by Democrats
and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger but angrily denounced by most Republicans.
![]("https://www.mymotherlode.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/615718-BID-dave-cogdill-building.jpg")
California did not descend all of a sudden into fiscal panic. Eight years of high taxes and bad regulations had hurt the economy. The fact that Arnold did nothing to fix this problem only shows the power of the Deep State of Sacramento to run everything for their benefit, while everyone else picks up the pieces and pays for the damage.
Cogdill helped craft the deal as one of the Legislature's leaders, but
found it a hard sell with his fellow GOP senators. Over the course of several
days, no Republican in the Senate would join Cogdill in supporting the plan.
Two other GOP senators ultimately agreed to the deal, which Schwarzenegger
immediately signed into law.
found it a hard sell with his fellow GOP senators. Over the course of several
days, no Republican in the Senate would join Cogdill in supporting the plan.
Two other GOP senators ultimately agreed to the deal, which Schwarzenegger
immediately signed into law.
One of those sellouts was Abel Maldonado, who wasn't too happy to be called out for his betrayal:
![]("https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eoZoyzbTW1Y/WXT3au0qLFI/AAAAAAAAf2g/9QoVSLQJWggiyiWbHLEEbRLCE6hzOLKPgCLcBGAs/s1600/Hateful%2BTweets%2Bfrom%2BAbel%2BMaldonado.JPG")
Shortly after midnight on Feb. 15, 2009, a majority of members of
Cogdill's caucus fired him as leader during a heated closed-door meeting —
during which reporters gathered in the hallway could hear the shouting. Cogdill
calmly returned to his seat on the Senate floor as Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth
(R-Murrieta) was announced as the Republican leader.
Cogdill's caucus fired him as leader during a heated closed-door meeting —
during which reporters gathered in the hallway could hear the shouting. Cogdill
calmly returned to his seat on the Senate floor as Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth
(R-Murrieta) was announced as the Republican leader.
So glad that Dave got the heave-ho.
Now, the Republican caucus has become weaker and more divided, unale to
Three days later, Schwarzenegger praised Cogdill, telling reporters
that the Republican "did what was right for the people."
that the Republican "did what was right for the people."
Yes, just as Schwarzenegger would praise sellout Cap-n-Traitor Chad Mayes.
Wow, the more things change …
Cogdill did not run for reelection to the state Senate in 2010, and
returned home to Modesto. That same year, he and the three other legislative
leaders who crafted the multibillion dollar deficit package were awarded the
Profile In Courage award by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation.
returned home to Modesto. That same year, he and the three other legislative
leaders who crafted the multibillion dollar deficit package were awarded the
Profile In Courage award by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation.
Raising taxes on other people is not courage. Stealing from people to fix budget problems which you helped create, or which the Democrats created and your refused to fix–that is not courage. That is cowardice, that is self-important pandering.
That is not courage in the slightest.
"It's an example for legislators across the country and also for
Americans that we really need to solve the problems that our country
faces," said Caroline Kennedy, the late president's daughter, in a 2010
television interview on the award presented to California's four legislative
leaders.
Americans that we really need to solve the problems that our country
faces," said Caroline Kennedy, the late president's daughter, in a 2010
television interview on the award presented to California's four legislative
leaders.