In 1999, the first year of the beginning of the Davis debacle, I was re-appointed as the Republican member of the Health and Human Services Budget Subcommittee (I had been the one Republican member of the three member committee before, but had been removed because I was "too difficult" to deal with). When I returned, my consultant on that committee was Mike Genest. For at least one budget cycle (maybe two), we sat in the committee watching then Committee Chair (later Congresswoman, and now Labor Secretary) Hilda Solis spend the state into oblivion. During her time as the Committee Chair, Solis increased welfare spending by 42%, moving the state to its largest (by percentage) deficit in its history.
During that time, I learned more about the budget, how it works, and what works and what doesn’t than I had in my first stint on the committee. I had great consultants before and after that time, but I learned a lot from Genest, and learned how the budget worked. A better budget technician you will never find.
He is now leaving the state, and I think the Governor will be worse off for it. He is loyal, he is competent, he is smart, and he knows how to make the budget work. I don’t know all of the battles that took place behind closed doors in the Governor’s office, but I know that the budget didn’t grow out of control because Genest was at the helm. He knew how to control spending, he knew how to say no. He knew what he was doing, and he stayed around long after it became clear that his opinions were not driving the budget process. That is a testament to his loyalty.
His voice will be missed in the Governor’s office. As time goes on, the Governor’s greatest failure in office will be his failure to control spending, and keep the budget under control. I know, had the Governor actually listened to Genest, rather than some of the other voices in his administration, the Governor would be feted as a hero of restraint in otherwise difficult times. If Genest were not there, things would have been worse, I am sure. Sorry to see you go, Mike, the State needs you.