Ackerman and Republicans Stand Firm On Budget (Ackerman Explains Party's Position Alert)

Orange County Register ^ | 07/21/2007 | Brian Joseph

[goldstategop]

The Governor and the Democrats are both charging that the only way you can get to that zero operating deficit you're looking for is by cutting education. Do you agree with that?

No. In fact we gave them numbers last night [Friday]that got it to zero without cutting education.

The Senate Republicans survived a night of lock-in in chambers. Not a single Senator changed his vote. Is this a victory for you guys?

I think it's not necessarily a victory, but we all knew going in there was going to be no votes for the budget. The Democrats obviously didn't believe us so they wanted to put it up and hold us there overnight. So there's not shock to us that there were no votes there.

What is different about you this year? You appear to be a tougher negotiator this year and is that at all connected to the earlier leadership fight in the Senate Republican caucus?

I'm older. I'd say I'm the same. Every budget is different. … Last year was an election year budget. Both Democrats and Republicans take a different view of things in an election year. … This year is not an election year, we've got a worse budget, so we have to make harder decisions this year.

How long are you willing to drag this out?

We're not going to drag out any negotiations. We want a good budget. And as soon as we get some agreement from some of the Democrats then we'll have a budget.

[goldstategop]

The CAGOP Senate Republicans are in the news. Senate Minority Leader Dick Ackerman explained the GOP Caucus's stand on the budget.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus