CA: Legislation mostly reform-focused in light of deficit

[I_Love_My_Husband]

Legislation mostly reform-focused in light of deficit By Chris Rizo , Correspondent SACRAMENTO -- California's $34.8 billion budget deficit is forcing state lawmakers from the Whittier area to pare their legislative ambitions for a third straight year.

Instead of proposing spending for projects benefiting their districts proposals likely to be defeated by the guardians of the Legislature's pocketbook area leaders instead are introducing reform-focused bills this session.

"There is a consensus among Republicans and Democrats not to create any new programs,' said Assemblyman Bob Pacheco, R-Industry, who represents portions of Whittier. "We have to live with the programs we have and make them work for us.'

Pacheco, who sits on the Assembly Appropriations Committee, vowed not to introduce legislation that generates more spending. In that spirit, he introduced legislation that would make detailed information about registered sex offenders available through the Internet.

"What's going to be interesting is to see how my Democratic colleagues approach legislation this year,' he said. "If they introduce bills that cost money there are going to be a lot of dead bills laying around.'

State Sen. Jack Scott, also mindful of the state's runaway budget deficit, has introduced legislation that would lay the groundwork for a comprehensive firearm ballistics fingerprinting system. The bill, however, delays funding until brighter budget times.

Assemblywoman Carol Liu is going toe-to-toe with Caltrans to force the department into taking better care of its rental properties along the uncompleted Long Beach (710) Freeway corridor.

Her bill, AB 21, would not spend money but will potentially cost the state in lost revenues. The proposal would freeze rents at July 1, 2001, levels for about 350 Caltrans rentals along the 4.5-mile freeway gap.

Meanwhile, other Democrats, fearing that the combination of a faltering economy and dwindling state revenues could leave health and welfare programs in ruin, are floating proposals to raise taxes and fees.

One such proposal, by Sen. Gloria Romero, would charge liquor wholesalers a five-cent-per- serving fee on the estimated 700 million gallons of wine, beer and spirits they distribute in the state annually. The revenue would help subsidize California's beleaguered trauma care system.

Her proposal would create a special trust fund from which hospitals and EMS agencies, including local fire departments, could seek dollar-for-dollar reimbursement for treating alcohol-related injuries.

No dice, says Republican Sen. Bob Margett of Diamond Bar, echoing the GOP caucus' hard- line opposition to any type of tax increases.

Margett, a businessman, said increasing taxes for any reason would be tantamount to battering an already bruised economy. Chris Rizo can be reached at (916) 296-3097.

[I_Love_My_Husband]

No dice, says Republican Sen. Bob Margett of Diamond Bar, echoing the GOP caucus' hard- line opposition to any type of tax increases.

[I_Love_My_Husband]

more budget info

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for the ping! Interesting to see if the Republicans are successful in holding down the tax increases!

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[Grampa Dave]

Ever since the Rats in Congress created the phoney Social Security Trust fund, the rats in every state love to set up these special so called funds. Use a fee (code word for tax) send money to the general fund and spend it and leave an IOU with the special fund.

The answer is simple. Fire every new government employee hired as a new semi warm body in the last two years. Cut the current spending across the board by 10% and go back to the budget two fiscal years ago with no new taxes for the next two fiscal years.

In about 18 to 24 months, the deficit will be over. Our economy will be coming back and taxes will flow in for the next round of tax and spend insanity from the maggots of the left.

[Lancey Howard]

Interesting to see if the Republicans are successful in holding down the tax increases!

Huh?
Sorry, but "holding down" taxes is a loser. It's a "little bit of cancer is okay". It's a spineless cave-in.
The Republicans need to DOA

.....ANY......

....tax increase the scumbags propose.
Not one thin dime. Zero. Nada. Nothing.