Gov. Jerry Brown, Democratic leaders seek common ground on budget cuts

Sacramento Bee ^ | 6/11/12 | Kevin Yamamura

[SmithL]

Democratic lawmakers have vowed all spring to fight spending cuts to programs that serve the poorest Californians, including welfare-to-work and Cal Grant scholarships.

In a Capitol where fiscal maneuvers have flourished in recent years, Gov. Jerry Brown says he wants real cuts to health and welfare programs because the state cannot afford what it provides.

Facing a Friday deadline to pass a balanced budget, Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez and Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg are meeting with Brown behind closed doors to find middle ground.

Deal or no deal, it is nearly certain that lawmakers will send the governor a budget by Friday. Under a 2010 initiative, they face the prospect of losing their pay and expense money unless they pass a budget on time.

Democrats no longer need Republicans to pass the budget, thanks to a 2010 initiative allowing majority-vote approval.

They do need Republican votes to approve tax increases, but have opted instead to go directly to voters for a November tax hike on sales and high-income earners to raise $8.5 billion.

Brown and Democratic lawmakers are on the same page except for about $2 billion in cuts to programs for the poor, Steinberg told The Bee. He has suggested previously that the state reduce its "rainy-day" fund contribution and use former redevelopment funds as a way to help close the state's $15.7 billion gap.

The tax initiative looms over whatever happens this week, as Brown and Democrats want to show voters that they made serious headway in solving the state's persistent budget imbalance before they ask for more taxes.

[SmithL]

Republicans have no role whatsoever in the budget anymore. It belongs to the Rats. Nevertheless, there will be a budget, it will be on-time, and it will be nothing but smoke-and-mirrors.

[oldbrowser]

Democratic lawmakers have vowed all spring to fight spending cuts to programs that serve the poorest Californians

Okay, lets leave the poorest alone and take some of the fat from the lardash bureaucracy.

[JPG]

It's a new day with the same old tired movie. When CA gets serious about out-of-control spending on public union bennies, illegals and rat-pork, then things will improve. Otherwise, nothing will change. NOTHING.

[bopdowah]

I might be wrong, but seems to me if you slash benefits for the poorest, they would just go back across the border, in which case - problem solved!

I don’t think our politicos even know much about whom they refer to as “the poor”, which are always spoken of in the abstract, used to produce guilt, and shamelessly exploited to extract more money from taxpayers.

When I was a kid, the churches and wealthy society ladies did the heavy lifting when it came to charity. It’s our individual responsibility to take care of our own and the strangers we meet that are in want. That way there’s some accountability on the part of the beneficiary and the givers do not have a gun to their head while the government steals from them.

[Iron Munro]

Seeeking ways to close the state's $15.7 billion budget gap?

And then there is the $68 billion bullet train project to finance.....

[saleman]

“Brown and Democratic lawmakers are on the same page except for about $2 billion in cuts to programs for the poor, Steinberg told The Bee. He has suggested previously that the state reduce its “rainy-day” fund contribution and use former redevelopment funds as a way to help close the state’s $15.7 billion gap.”

They actually have a rainy-day fund. Now that’s funny! Seems liked they skipped “rainy-day” and moved straight to Hurricane.