The Senate Democrat propose coping with their overspending by raising the state sales tax, because California taxpayers just aren't coughing up enough moolah for the suit their spending habits. Gov. Schwarzenegger, allegedly Republican but philosophically vacant, agrees. It is the post-partisan thing to do, after all.

So kudos to Sen. Lou Correa abstaining from voting for the sales tax increase yesterday. In 2006, Lou made this promise to his constituents:

"I'll oppose higher taxes and put our money into things I know government can do successfully: fix roads and improve public safety, police and fire services."

While opposing higher taxes means voting "no" on tax increase, an abstention has the same effect. It's just kind of watery.

My advice to Lou: your caucus is going to give you grief even for abstaining on their tax grab, so why not vote "no"? That would be more dramatic than telling supporters at a campaign rally:

"When the special interests in Sacramento wanted to raise your taxes, I abstained!"

The screws will no doubt keep turning on Lou, and since his Democratic colleagues couldn't pick off two squishy Republicans, they did't need Lou's vote anyway.

If two Senate Reeps go wobbly and follow Schwarzenegger's lead, the pressure on Lou to break his no-new-taxes pledge will grow even more intense. After all, he'll be standing between the government hogs and more slop in the trough.

I think it is more likely than not that Lou Correa holds tight. Given a choice between angering his Senate Democratic colleagues and holding on to his seat, I think he'll choose the latter.