I know we have a policy here at the FlashReport of not reposting press releases that we receive. Mainly because when we do that, we just get a billion more press releases. But as Captain Barbosa said in Pirates of Carribean, our policy is is more what you’d call "guidelines" than actual rules. Today Senate Republicans put out a release that I actually thought was worth passing along to you as it was written (there is some work on our part, to activate links and such). Well, here it is…
Can You Hear Us Now?
A Review (Again!) of the Senate Republican Budget Concerns
Since before July 20th when the Democrats forced Senate Republicans to vote down a flawed budget, there has been the claim that we haven’t been clear in our tenets of a state spending plan for California. Through the numerous documents that have been distributed over the last two weeks, and on our new budget website, we have made it abundantly clear that our message and terms have not changed…
Californian’s deserve:
A balanced budget that addresses the out-year deficits.
Protect recently approved bond funds and taxpayer dollars dedicated to roads, schools, levees and other infrastructure projects from litigation based on unwritten environmental regulations.
Click here for full article.
When Senate Republicans were compelled to vote down the unsound budget presented to them on July 20th, we offered to pass urgency legislation that would provide up to $10 billion in continuous funding for vital government services.
Senate Democrats voted on the Senate Floor to deny considering that legislation, even though in eight current members of the Senate voted for a similar measure in 1998.
The legislation proposed by Senator Denham and other members of the Republican Caucus would have provided for uninterrupted, vital funding to pay for the health care of Medi-Cal patients. Hospitals and nursing homes across the state depend on Medi-Cal payments to keep their doors open to care for the poor, blind and disabled.
Click here for full release.
After voting to reject the current budget proposal, Democrats gave Senate Republicans an opportunity to develop their own budget plan that we would be willing to support.
Republicans met and surpassed that challenge by not only balancing the budget, but turned the $700 million deficit into a $143 million surplus. When that plan was presented on the Senate Floor, which was simply a restatement of all the concerns that we expressed in Budget Subcommittees since they convened in May, the Democrats quickly adjourned and promised to review the proposal. The Democrat-controlled Senate has yet to bring forth the Republican plan for discussion or a vote.
Click here for full release.
Once the California Budget is passed, it requires additional legislation, also known as Trailer Bills, to enact many provisions of the spending plan.
Over the years, however, these trailer bills have been repositories for significant policy changes and special interest spending that otherwise wouldn’t be palatable in the main budget. This year, the trailer bills are especially flawed and fraught with shifts in policy and load with pork. Some of the other egregious problems with the trailer bills include the following:
- SB 80 regarding Education does not include funding for Equalization.
- SB 86 regarding Health includes a provision designed to line the pockets of trial lawyers when seeking reimbursement from third parties for Medi-Cal services.
- SB 85 regarding Resources would restrict the Air Resources Board from implementing market-based mechanisms to limit greenhouse gases.
- SB 86, the trailer bill on general government contains several objectionable provisions including – a requirement that state agencies use only certifiably "green" office space which would deal a crippling blow to the timber industry, an extension from 6 months to 12 months for state departments and agencies to fill vacancies, and changes to the unclaimed property program that would limit the ability of property owners to claim property and that would enable the state to seize private property.
- SB 88 on implementation of Proposition 1B (Transportation Bond) would prevent the railroad industry from accessing goods movement funds because the industry proactively and voluntarily entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Air Resources Board to lower emissions.
Senate Republicans will continue to provide information and explanations of their long-standing position on California’s State Budget through regular correspondence to their constituents, the media, their fellow Legislators and on their website.
August 10th, 2007 at 12:00 am
We also must not forget about the $6 million that the Democrat budget gives to labor unions for use in training their activists. See here.
August 10th, 2007 at 12:00 am
If the Democrats can’t hear the Senate GOP, then we should either give them my hearing aids or a megaphone!
At this point, Perata and the Senate Democrats are either tone deaf or in deep denial about the budget numbers!