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# An Independent Decision
- URL: https://ivn.us/independent-decision/
- Published: 2009-06-25T04:33:56.000Z
- Updated: 2026-06-22T19:13:46.000Z
- Author: Thomas Sbrega
- Tags: News

Arambula expresses disappointment over the state's water problem solutions and the Democratic leaders who curb the deficit by raising taxes without deeper cuts using "phantom money" ([LA Times](http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-arambula24-2009jun24,0,6182224.story?ref=ivn.us)). Although he recently received some new committee assignments by Speaker Karen Bass, Assemblymember Juan Arambula declined to state the actual reason for departing from the Democrat party to become independent, [Contra Costa Times](http://www.contracostatimes.com/politics/ci%5F12671617?source=rss) reports. He also "declined to state” his party affiliation, meaning that he is an independent voter, under California election laws ([Fresno Bee](http://fresnobeehive.com/opinion/2009/06/democratic%5Fpartyarambula%5Fleave.html?ref=ivn.us)).

He is not a Republican, however. Although he has voted for tax increases in the past, he admits that: “there is a time and place to do so.” He doesn’t deny doing so this time, saying: “The reality is that we are unlikely to get a two-thirds (vote) to raise taxes, so whether I might support them in limited situations or not is an academic issue” ([Sacramento Bee](http://www.sacbee.com/politics/story/1971764.html?ref=ivn.us)). “Independent voters are the canaries in the coal mine of American politics,” the [Wall Street Journal](http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124570175501838333.html?ref=ivn.us) reports, “They also tend to decide most elections.” The article goes on to suggest that Democrats are “renting” their voters and don’t “own” them, hence a reconcilement is not out of the question.