One of the major fallacies in the budget commentary I have read on the 2007-08 State budget is that "Republicans have to show their hand" on spending "cuts" necessary to balance the budget.
No, they don’t.
The responsiblity of Assembly Minority Leader Mike Villines and Senate Minority Dick Ackerman is simply this: oppose tax increases, clearly state the conditions under which sufficient GOP votes will be available for passage of a final budget plan and amendments.
Contrary to what the popular pundrity is saying, the GOP has no duty, no responsiblity whatsoever, to suggest spending alternatives. Leave it to the Democrats and the Governor to come up with those adjustments. For too long, the GOP has surrendered the premise that we must suggest alternatives. Clearly, this is the responsiblity of the majority and the Governor. It comes with being in the majority.
July 16th, 2007 at 12:00 am
This is nonsense. Every legislator is supposed to be working together to come up with a budget for the state of California. They are not just Republicans and Democrats, they are supposed to be elected Representatives of the voters in their districts and on top of everything else involved, hiding behind partisanship by saying only that you will oppose all tax increases and not discussing what you believe should be cut and what should be kept, deprives your constituents of a voice in the discussion about which of their programs deserve to be maintained and will wind up leading to good programs being cut.
July 16th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Excellent opinion, Mike.
July 16th, 2007 at 12:00 am
My representatives need only vote no to the budget and oppose all tax increases and spending increases and will feel represented.
July 16th, 2007 at 12:00 am
The Republicans have suggested billions in cuts — they just don’t want to share it with the press and the public. Why? Because they would be hugely unpopular.
If that was the case, Mike, then Republicans should have signed onto the budget a long time ago. There are NO new tax increases in this budget, nor have their been in any budget in recent memory. In fact, if the Governor hadn’t approved the $5 billion per year tax CUT (VLF), we would be swimming in black ink.
In addition, there are NO new sicuak programs in the budget, early payback of the Economic Recovery Bonds, and a reserve equal to the Governor’s updated proposed reserve.
July 16th, 2007 at 12:00 am
typo = “social programs”
July 16th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Tom, its up to the Governor to lead on a balanced budget. We’ve raised spending 202% since 1997 and 194% for education. The Governor can find $2 billion. Villines has no obligation to show him how.
July 16th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Brother Steve,
The budget is not balanced.
Pretty much end of story……
July 16th, 2007 at 12:00 am
We need more tax cuts, actually, Steve. The size of the state budget has balooned to an obscene amount.
Thus we have a fundamental disagreement between political parties.
Republicans would like to see billions returned to taxpaying families to spend on priorities they see as important. Democrats would like to see more and more money taken from taxpayers and reallocated by politicians towards their favorite programs.
July 16th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Jon makes a fair point about the philisophical differences between the parties. My main point is that I believe if you are going to argue for free enterprise taking over some of the roles currently filled by the government and if they are trying to influence what the programs are that will be cut, they should be upfront with the people of California and specify what they are. I am a liberal, but I am not making that argument for political reasons, but because I think too much of the budget negotiations happen behind closed doors with way too much posturing on both sides. Probably most people here don’t remember it, but I can remember Pat Nolan being very open about the programs he wanted cut, (some of which were very controversial) and that helping him in negotiations because Californian’s who followed the budget believed he was being upfront and opinion leaders started pushing hard for Democrats to be as upfront and open and that helped to lead to a settlement.
July 16th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Michael … Try again. The budget is balanced.
And Jon, in case you missed it at home, the cost of living rises every year — including the costs of government. Health care costs, prison costs, labor costs.
And if your GOP leaders are so sincere about cutting government, ask them to give you the list of cuts they are proposing so that all Californians can see. What do you say? Let the sun shine!
July 16th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Legislative Analyst Report on the May revise, page 3:
“we estimate that, under the Governor’s proposals, state expenditures would exceed revenues by $3 billion in 2007-08.”
Balanced according to whom?
July 16th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Steve, read my op ed in the Fresno Bee tomorrow to really make yourself crazy……….
July 16th, 2007 at 12:00 am
That’s NEXT year’s budget. LAO predictions about NEXT year’s budgets have been wrong, over and over again.
THIS year’s budget is balanced.
Now if you hadn’t cut taxes by $5 billion a year, then you’d see the budget would have a $2 billion SURPLUS this year, in addition to the $5 billion in each of the past few years.
Hey…keep writing. The “not responsible” stuff works great for Democrats. In the meantime, where’s that list of cuts? Can I look forward to that in the Bee? Watcha afraid of?
July 17th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Steve — word around the buiding is that we’ll be able to see something in the media about such a list because you leaked it. I’ve heard this from people on both sides of the aisle. If true, that’s pretty weak.
July 17th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Wow! 14 posts on this subject from Michael Der Manouel.
Kudos to Michael for his insightful and short observation.
It is the responsibility of the Democratic Majority in the legislature to forumlate a budget and show their cards on the table, afterall they run the shots in Sacramento!
If the Democrats can’t accept the responsibility given to them by the voters, then the powers vested by the people should demand change of political leadership to the Republicans in 2008!
The people of Califronia want fiscal accountability and restraint on spending. After all the money that the state is collecting coming from the hard working Californians!
July 17th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Allen,
Making the left crazy is fun, isn’t it. They have the majority, but they want the minority to cut spending. Fun!
July 17th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Guess what? The gerrymandered districts that Republicans represent demand that they hold strong against this budget. Folding on this budget would hurt their reelection bid. Within their districts sticking it to the Democratic majority is seen as a good thing so they have no reason to give in.