McClintock on State Budget

Halfway to Concord ^ | 1/10/6

[SmithL]

Senator McClintock’s Statement on the Governor’s Budget Proposal for 2006-2007:

“Today the Governor released his budget proposal for the 2006-2007 fiscal year.

“It projects general fund spending of $97.9 billion with income of $91.5 billion, for a general fund operating deficit of $6.4 billion. This brings the accumulated three year operating deficit to $9.8 billion.

“This deficit is funded entirely with borrowed funds from Proposition 57, approved by voters in 2004. Although the public was promised that this bond would only be used to pay for past deficits, it is in fact being used to cover deficits for 2004 ($0.6 billion), 2005 ($2.9 billion) and now 2006 ($6.4 billion).

“In November, the Legislative Analyst projected that if nothing were done to rein in spending, the 2006 budget would consume $95.1 billion. The governor proposes spending $2.8 billion above this figure.

“In the last three years, combined population and inflation will have grown 16 percent; revenues 19 percent; spending 25 percent. For the budget year, combined population and inflation will increase 4 percent; revenues 5 percent; spending 9 percent. Revenues continue to outpace inflation and population; spending continues to outpace revenues.

“I have always applied two fundamental tests to a budget: it must be balanced within existing revenues and it must contain a prudent reserve. The proposal as submitted to the legislature fails both tests.”

[calcowgirl]

FYI, I posted the same McClintock press release on another thread (here)
and pinged it to the McClintock Ping list.

I'm glad somebody is giving some straight facts.

[LNewman]

I do hereby humbly repent for not voting my conscience in the past for a candidate head-and-shoulders above the rabble.

[SmithL]

Yes you did, and I missed it. It's an excellent piece, but I suspect that it doesn't matter. It will pass, overwhelmingly, because Californians love those free money programs from the Government. And that's precisely why McClintock will never be elcted here.

sigh

[calcowgirl]

I do hope your predictions are wrong. :-)

You want me to add you to the McC ping list?

[SmithL]

Following the Special Election, I've abandoned any optimism that I ever had for California. Yes, please add me to your McClintock list.