CA: Budget talks continue, big issues remain unresolved (Reaching critical me$$)

Mercury News ^ | 6/9/03 | Tom Chorneau - AP

[NormsRevenge]

SACRAMENTO - With less than a week to go before a June 15 deadline for adopting a state budget, the gap between Democrats and Republicans appeared to widen Monday as the state treasurer and GOP Senate leader traded accusations over spending and politics.

[NormsRevenge]

"We must deal with he state's fundamental fiscal problem - we spend more than we take in," Brulte wrote. "I am committed to helping craft an on-time budget that can receive broad bipartisan support. However, a budget that contains tax increases and continues rampant and irresponsible overspending is no solution."

Wow!!! What a revelation, HuH?

[NormsRevenge]

Ping

[seenenuf]

I hope the "R's" hold firm. Let Wall Street blow the whistle on the "D's" me$$. It's gotta get worse to get
better.

[NormsRevenge]

Meanwhile, supporters of Gov. Gray Davis have launched a campaign in support of Davis' $100.4 billion budget plan released last month. Radio ads sponsored by teachers groups and the California State PTA will begin running statewide Tuesday urging support for the Davis plan.

I would tell the demRats and Davi$ .. "We will not work with you on passing a budget for anything over $75 billion. Take it or leave it! You made all these decisions to spend like drunken sailors, live with the hangover."

Significant cuts must be made, this state's taxpayers can not shoulder the burdens of the demRats mismanagement and fiscal irresponsibility. The scuttlebutt is that these are the hard choices that many are now trying to put off until next year in the hope that the economy begins to come back. They are playing Russian Roulette, IMO. We all stand to lose if they continue to play that game.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Big issues are certainly unresolved!

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[heleny]

"I am deeply concerned about your recent politically charged statements and actions and their negative impact on the state's fiscal condition," Angelides wrote to Brulte.

I don't find them politically charged at all, except that Brulte should have also told the comments to any democrats who might have vulnerable seats.

Brulte's comments were merely a reminder to the GOP legislators that they must keep the constituents' best interests in mind.

CA has the highest taxes in the nation (highest state sales tax rate and among the highest income tax rates, plus other taxes/fees for people and businesses), and more taxes would hurt the CA economy and CA citizens. The tax-and-spend legislators with paid expenses usually don't even think about our tax burdens.

[Lancey Howard]

"I am deeply concerned about your recent politically charged statements and actions and their negative impact on the state's fiscal condition," Angelides wrote to Brulte.

"And I am deeply concerned about your party's reckless vote-buying frenzy of the past five years, funded with my constituents' tax dollars which were confiscated from them against their will. You will get not one dime more. Deal with it."

(What I would have said.)

[tom h]

"Brulte's comments were merely a reminder to the GOP legislators that they must keep the constituents' best interests in mind."

Brulte's comments were also merely a reminder to let the Democrats lie in the bed they made.

Let no one forget that if, during Gray Davis' term as Governor (1999 to 2003), the state budget had risen indexed to a combination of inflation and population growth, we Californias would currently have a budget SURPLUS of $5 billion. Brulte is right on -- it was always a spending problem.

[NormsRevenge]

"And I am deeply concerned about your party's reckless vote-buying frenzy of the past five years, funded with my constituents' tax dollars which were confiscated from them against their will. You will get not one dime more. Deal with it."

(What I would have said.)

And you just did! Thanks! :-)

[Uncle Hal]

This budget will be a real test for the GOP. I hope they they do not back down. I would guess Davis is not going to try and raise the vehicle tax until the recall movement has run its course. If he raises the vehicle tax now he is toast. If he rases it before the recall election, assuming the recall is successful, he is double toast.