The annual Ronald Reagan Fawnfest at the state Capitol happened today, although one Democrat tried to ratchet down the gushapalooza.
The late president would have turned 100 on Sunday, and lawmakers praised him, saying in a resolution that his vision “helped make America an even brighter beacon of hope and democratic values in the world.”
Senate Majority Leader John Morse, a Colorado Springs Democrat, proposed amending the resolution to say, in part, that as governor of California Reagan passed the largest tax increase in the state’s history to help the budget and as president he signed an immigration reform amnesty bill.
A decade ago, the Democratic House leader attempted to do a similar thing to the Reagan resolution, leading to a bitter debate. House Republicans won that one for the Gipper.
But the discussion today in the Senate was tame as Morse had warned the Senate GOP beforehand of his intent and they came armed with counter arguments. Morse withdrew the amendment after the discussion.