PAY-AS-YOU-GO: GREAT IDEA!
Today, at 11am, Assembly Republicans will release the details on a new "pay-as-you-go" infrastructure proposal, which is summarized today in the lead piece on the FlashReport – and exclusive column from Assembly Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (pictured to the right).  This plan, which McCarthy’s staff says has been blessed by Jon Coupal of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, represents a major effort by legislative Republicans to fund infrastructure projects in each budget, rather than relying exclusively on a ‘max out the state credit card’ approach to borrowing as much as possible.  This proposal just makes the dynamic in the Capitol that much more confusing.  The Governor has proposed and aggressive borrowing plan, the lynchpin of while is a massive $68,000,000,000.00 ($68 billion) general obligation bond package to go to voters.  Some Democrats (unbelievably) has said this isn’t enough.  Even more Democrats have taken issue with the Governor’s ‘spending priorities’ with this money, and are racing to try to ensure funding for the pet programs.  With Republicans staking out a position on the Governor right, arguing for less borrowing and more pay-as-you-go, and Democrats on his left, the Governor will have his hands full.  All of this decreases the likelihood that anything will come before the voters before the November election.  This might make political sense, as Democrat leaders would, in theory, be anxious to deny the Governor of a potential ‘win’ by passing an infrastructure package in June…

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 25th, 2006 at 12:00 am and is filed under Blog Posts.