Not wanting to be contrarian to all the recent voices for the Governor to call a fiscal emergency special session to deal with California’s critical budget crisis – but if he does – nothing will happen.
Sure – a "Fiscal Emergency Special Session" sounds great, and it would be great if Prop 58 (which created this authority) had any teeth in it. But Prop 58 was written as window dressing for Prop 57 (the $15 Billion Deficit Bond) that the governor and the Democrats really, really wanted to bail us out of the Gray Davis deficit crisis.
Prop 57’s basic concept was for California to go into more long-term debt to pay off its short-term deficit – which without Prop 58 to make it look like "real reform" would never ever have made it past the voters. (consumer warning: don’t attempt this at home – you will go bankrupt)
**There is more – click the link**
November 30th, 2007 at 12:00 am
With all due respect, Senator, it’s difficult to give your post concerning the state budget any credibility, given that you have can’t even get your numbers correct when it comes to the budget-related measures you’re discussing.
Prop 59 had nothing to do with budget deficits. It was an Open Meetings proposition that was approved by voters in November 2004. I believe the measures you are talking about are Props 57/58 which were on the ballot in March of 2004.
The votes on these measures were bipartisan and ovrwhelming:
Prop. 57 (was ABx5 9) — passed the Assembly 65 to 13, and the Senate 27 to 12.
Prop. 58 (was ACAx5 5) — passed Assembly 80 to 0, and the Senate 35 to 5.
And just to make sure, FLASH readers know, Senator
Battin voted NO on ABx5 9 (Prop. 57) and YES on ACAx5 5 (Prop. 58).
Also, there would be no budget deficit whatsoever if Republicans not supported the repeal of the vehicle license fee, which has cost our treasury about $6 billion per year.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Steve! I’ve missed you – so I thought I’d write a piece on the budget and I just knew you’d be there for me. It’s nice to renew our budget chats via FR (I’ve missed them since last summer – when you were telling us all how responsible the budget the Assembly passed was [and defending your house adjourning and jaunting off on vacation]).
I must demur though, and accept your correction. I did indeed error and got the Prop number wrong. I will therefore correct my post above – but point out here that you were right it was Prop 57 that was the $15 Billion Budget Deficit Bond NOT Prop 59. Thank you for reading my post and caring enough to point it out.
Now as to the Republican support for cutting that God-awful Car Tax (vehicle license fee), I’m very proud of my support of getting rid of it. NewsFlash: Californians HATED it. Hated it. Hated it.
Please, if the Car Tax is so important and so loved by voters, do me this one small favor: just have all your Democrat members sign a letter demonstrating their desire to reinstate it (a 2% property tax on cars which cost people hundreds of dollars every year). I’d love to have everyone on record……but I won’t hold my breath.
Thanks again for the correction Steve — I look forward to the Democrats proposal on reinstating the car tax!
November 30th, 2007 at 12:00 am
A pox upon the “do-nothing” Democrats in Sacramento, and their Republican Governor.
With revenues falling, and spending out of control, all the socialists of Sacramento can do is talk about instituting the largest spending program in the history of the State of California.
I for one am sick of these people. The Republicans are spineles, aside from Sen. McClintock.
Whatever. Arnold has single-handedly destroyed the Republican Party and everyone is afraid to mention it.
Scotty, beam me up.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:00 am
It’s mutual admiration society between you and me, Senator Battin.
I’ll get that letter signed just as soon as you are able to get Senate Republicans to sign a letter proposing to cut education by $6 billion next year. That kinda thing worked so well for you and the Governor in 2005, remember?
November 30th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Steve – are we negotiating? Cool. This might be the first time ever that Democrats sought out Republican input on the budget before June 1st of the year of the budget.
Let’s keep it up and maybe we avoid making a bigger mess out of the mess we (though not by my vote) are already in.
I’m still looking for that letter. Try and get Nicole Parra or Cathleen Galgiani to sign it first :-) (I’m assuming your efforts on Prop 93 are successful here).
I do so love our chats.