This just in from Republican State Senator Sam Aanestad, on the current budget situation…
They’re Not Listening, But I Am
by Senator Sam Aanestad
I find it confusing that the Majority Party is suddenly angered over Senate Republican demands for a truly balanced budget. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. We have been repeating the same line as a unified caucus since we passed the previous budget.
When Senate Republicans met in San Diego last November, we announced our pledge that the New Year would be the year of the “balanced budget.” After the Governor’s State of the State address to the State Legislature last January, we again repeated the pledge that this year would be the year of the balanced budget. And, again, after the May Revise, we repeated the pledge that this year would be the year of the balanced budget.
And the majority party is now surprised? Have they been listening to the Republican Caucus? This isn’t anything new. We’ve been repeating this mantra for months and have been very open about our intentions.
Yet – the majority party still produced a budget that is billions out of whack and will result in a budget deficit of close to $6 billion next year. And, if revenues based on very shaky assumptions continue to fall below projections, that deficit could be much higher.
I have a great deal of respect for many of my colleagues across the aisle. I understand their desire to provide services to Californians and I share many of those concerns. But a healthy state fiscal picture is the only way to ensure future, consistent, vital services, so I will not waver one inch from my principals of fiscal conservatism. I refuse to support any budget that isn’t balanced, and will not support a budget that is balanced with “gimmicks,” risky assumptions or continued borrowing.
I am not surprised by the solidarity shown by my colleagues in the State Senate. We knew we were going to be in for a fight, and we’re not backing down. We expected the majority party to go on the attack, and they have, by locking us in the Senate Chambers overnight and calling us “traitors” and “wackos.” I am not a terrorist or a wacko and I take personal offense to such rhetoric. In fact, I am a mature, intelligent and reasonable man who has a political philosophy based on strong fiscal principals and a concern for ALL Californians, not just some.
This fight isn’t for the benefit of Republicans or Democrats. It’s for the California taxpayer, who already pays his/her fair share in providing services for others, but gets nickled, dimed and dollared by our bloated state government at every turn. It’s time they are heard. And I’m more than happy to listen to them.
July 27th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Dear Senator, thank you for standing tall and for clarifying the real issues versus the spin from the left. Do not back down now: we’re almost at the finish line.