It may seem counter intuitive for me to be asking this question of Legislative Republicans, as opposed to the liberal Democrats that make up the majority of state legislators – but here it is – are you ready to make serious and deep cuts in state government spending?
I ask this question because as we can all see from the very serious funding shortfall that exists with the adopted budget, upwards of over $20 billion, there is a severe problem, and I think that it is fair to anticipate that California voters are going to reject not only new taxes, but also the various schemes on the ballot to throw more revenues at this problem. The message from the public will be clear – reduce state spending to available revenue.
I direct this commentary to Republicans because it is widely anticipated that the Governor will present a May Revision of the existing budget that includes some very tough spending cuts that will have a huge, material impact on the role and function of California government.
Republicans need to be ready to move beyond the talk, and embrace the cuts, and stand with the Governor when he is doing the right thing.
No one is saying that embracing steep cuts is a politically easy thing to do – but if Republicans can’t do it, how can we expect the Democrats to meaningfully consider doing so as well?
Some GOPers have been of the mindset that they oppose cuts in some areas of the budget, and support cuts in other areas. Note to GOP legislators – there is no part of state government that can be immune from cuts. Yes, this includes education. Yes, this includes corrections. Yes, this includes EVERYTHING.
In 2008, Governor Schwarzenegger introduces a budget that called for 10% in across the board cuts – a proposal that we here on the FlashReport immediately supported. But I will say that the Republican legislative response was – underwhelming. Some decried the “blanket” approach to saying that cuts should be applied equally when there are some areas of state spending that should be cut more, or eliminated, and other areas that were deserving of fewer, or no cuts. There were others who said to me privately that would ultimately vote for deep cuts if the votes were there, but that it was politically untenable to come out in support of cuts that they felt, because of the unwillingness of Democrats to support them, would never actually be enacted.
The time for Republican “hedging” on the issue of cuts is necessarily in the rear view mirror. Republican legislators need to step up now, and embrace a significant downsizing in state government – and yes, that means in all areas.
As I have said multiple times above, if the GOP doesn’t lead the way on agreeing to major cuts, there is no way that it is realistic to expect Democrats, who are totally beholding to the public employee unions, to do so.
May 13th, 2009 at 12:00 am
I’m just blown away that our elected officials in Sacramento can’t get the message that we’re sick of them passing their unsolved problems onto us. We elected these people to represent us, however, when they can’t solve a simple problem of controlling spending, they come up with lame solutions and expect us to vote on them, but as we all know, a vote of the people doesn’t mean anything to them. If they don’t like a proposition that the POPLE voted for, our elected officials will do their darnest to water down that proposition.
So the problem is over spending and the inability to control it. During fiscally fine years, when money is flowing, our elected officials have no problem in expanding the bloat of government. But when money is tight, these elected officials can’t cut.
I’d like to know why we even pay these elected officials if they can’t be fiscally responsible with OUR money.
May 13th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Our elected representatives caused this crisis and now they have to resolve it. They have on their consciences (if they have any) the responsibility for the massive layoffs that will be necessary. Oh, also the greedy unions.
Give the matter over to a panel of bankruptcy judges and let them decide the cuts by fiat. They can’t do any worse.