Posted on 07/26/2007 6:22:37 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
That's Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's message to the state Senate, as the 26th day of the budget impasse comes... and goes... with no spending plan in place.
Schwarzenegger held a news conference this afternoon on the fiscal fight at the state Capitol where he seemed to play the role of The Motivator more than the role of... well... you know.
"Pass it and move on and get on to the next thing," he told legislators, "because there's a lot of very, very important issues that we want to tackle."
Schwarzenegger focused his attention on the impacts to state government of a prolonged impasse, which in a week's time would be the longest stalemate since 2002. In particular, the governor said his staff has prepared an executive order that he will sign in the event of an emergency like a wildfire, allowing the state to spend whatever it needs. Officials from the California Department of Forestry said that some vendors who help keep firefighting aircraft in the air have said they may no longer do business with the state if they're not guaranteed of getting paid.
While the governor didn't exactly point the finger of blame at Senate Republicans, who still refuse to approve the one-week old budget proposal, he did pretty much reject most of their talking points.
On the GOP demand that all of the so-called structural deficit (the imbalance between current year revenues and expenditures) be erased, Schwarzenegger said this: "I don't believe that we should do that."
Instead, he said, legislators should agree to reform the budget process later this year (something first pitched several months ago by Senate President pro Tem Don Perata).
And he again tried to inject a dose of optimism into the grumpiness that seemed to manifest itself in public the past few days. "I think that with the spirit that we've had over the last year and a half here," he said, "with both parties work together and did always what was right for the people, I think with that spirit we have to really tackle this budget."
Click here to listen to Schwarzenegger's response to whether the Assembly budget should be reopened, and the lower house brought back to Sacramento from their summer recess to approve changes made by the Senate.
Republicans are also demanding changes to the state's environmental laws when it comes to the impact on global warming of existing construction projects. I asked the governor about that proposal... and while he didn't endorse it, he did endorse some reform of the law in question (the California Environmental Quality Act). Click here for that answer; it's doubtful Democrats agree with him on this one.
So, what does all of this mean? At this point, not much. The impasse in the Senate still seems to exist... with Republicans demanding more budget savings, and Democrats demanding a formal floor vote of solidarity from the 15 Senate Republicans before they consider what to do next.
Anyone have any weekend plans?
Don’t blame me; I voted for McClintock. Since it’s a fact that the Republicans in this state have absolutely no power whatsoever, what good is this silly game anyway?
And Rudy G wants to run the country like Schwarzenkennedy runs Calif?
Actually this demonstrates that we have a little bit of power and when we are willing to use it we can push for a tad more common sense in state spending.
I'm really proud of these fifteen guys, facing down the freight train of the spending lobby and liberal power base.
"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
"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
Mike Briggs was turned from office as a consequence of his sell out to serve the interests of a large, agribusiness constituent by an angry mob. Briggs suffered his deserved fate but the bloated budget passed.
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