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Jerry Brown is about to come under criticism -- for an action
that is compromising. And necessary.  The governor is raising
money. Specifically, he and his allies are raising money to
support the tax-hike ballot initiative that he wants voters to
approve in November 2012. According to news reports, the
initiative committee has raised $1.2 million in a few weeks.
Since that money comes from individuals and interests (Indian
gaming tribes, the hospital industry, unions) who stand to gain
from the governor's decisions, you can expect to see the
governor criticized and scrutinized for compromising the
appearance of independence.  That criticism might be fair
elsewhere -- but not in California. The state's system of
budgeting and governance is so complicated that doing anything
of significance, particular in fiscal matters, requires g