Just off the transom, Assembly Budget Committee Vice Chairman Roger Niello (R-Fair Oaks):
“With recent reports showing that next year’s budget deficit has grown to $14 billion, it’s clear that lawmakers must act to get the deficit under control. I’ve been disappointed to see some in the Legislature immediately seize upon our growing deficit with a call to raise taxes rather than reduce state spending. As the old saying goes, the first thing you should do when you find yourself in a hole is stop digging. Proceeding with a course of action that the voters have summarily rejected will only deepen the current budget crisis. We must remember that frustrated Californians sent a powerful message to Sacramento the last time taxes were irresponsibly raised by recalling the Governor.
Now is also not the time to grow government. Our state simply cannot afford the massive government-run health care program that will be voted upon next week, which includes, at a minimum, an $8 billion tax increase. Taxpayers deserve responsible leadership that will make the necessary decisions to deal with California’s spending problem, not more of the same ideas that got our state into its current fiscal mess in the first place.”
December 14th, 2007 at 12:00 am
With all respect, Mr. Niello, the health care legislation is firewalled from the state budget. It has zero impact. In fact, the urgency to enact comprehensive health care reform is increased because of the soaring costs of health care and its impact on the state budget.
Are you suggesting the restoration of the VLF that has cost the state more than $6 billion per year when you say “more of the same ideas that got our state into its current fiscal mess in the first place”?
December 14th, 2007 at 12:00 am
What in the heck is a “firewall” in this case? The reality is that this massive government program is likely to flip the California economy on end. How will you “firewall” the state’s budget from the disastrous effects on our economy of this dumb idea?
December 14th, 2007 at 12:00 am
It appears that VLF is the smoking gun to finance Arnold’s and/or Fabian’s Health Care proposal.
Steven: Tell your boss to stay out of my pocket and leave me alone. The Democrats protest in supporting Women’s Free right to choose, then the same should apply my right to be free of government intervention into my personal pocketbook.
I should NOT be taxed to pay for someone’s elses FREE health care, that is not FAIR.
Remember, In order to get the state out of the BIG BLACK HOLE is to cut expenses by 10% across the board: everything should be on the table…NO AND’S, IF’S OR BUT’S.