Posted on 07/07/2005 4:02:54 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - With uncharacteristic dispatch, the state Legislature approved California's $117.5 billion budget on Thursday, sending Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger the same agreement he struck earlier this week with legislative leaders.
The vote was 64-13 in the Assembly and 34-4 in the Senate, a show of support far greater than the two-thirds vote required for passage in both houses.
The governor is expected to sign the spending plan early next week. It would mark the earliest date California has approved a budget in five years.
The compromise spending plan - negotiated by Schwarzenegger and leaders from both parties over the Fourth of July weekend - achieves the governor's goals of avoiding tax increases and deficit spending for the fiscal year that began Friday.
The budget provides $3 billion more for schools and brings total education spending, including higher education, to $61 billion, a record for the state.
An unexpected infusion of about $4 billion from the improving state economy also allowed the state to spend $1.3 billion on road and transportation projects, return $1.2 billion to city and county governments and pay down some of its debt.
The budget also reduces the expected state deficit in the 2006-07 fiscal year from $15 billion to $4.7 billion.
"This is a very good first step," said Republican Kevin McCarthy, the Assembly's minority leader. "This is the right step, the right direction, but let's keep the movement going forward."
Economists and fiscal analysts warn that future shortfalls are likely to continue until a long-term fix is found. The state's persistent fiscal imbalance is a result of generous spending by lawmakers in recent years and complex funding formulas that lock in spending increases each year.
Nice try .. but NO cigar for you. ;-)
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, right, applauds the work on the state budget done by his Finance Director, Tom Campbell, left, during a cabinet meeting at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, July 6, 2005. On Wednesday, Schwarzenegger and Legislative leaders reached a compromise on a $116 billion 2005-06 state budget plan. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
Guess so!
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
I had expected better of him.
Incredible,,, General fund expenditures rise by ~ 18% in 2 years ..and now we have 2-3 months for the GUb to reach more 'compromises' with the dems over reform issues already on the November and beyond ballot(s).
The dough is rolling in again and the politicos are playing fast and loose, as usual.
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The SS CaliFoRnia sails on into the night, the sea glistening.. the legislature and party leaders partying like it's 1999,, and it IS. :-}
In the distance, the icebergs bob along .. like extras in the making of a disaster.
MR. FReeze was right, Hype haPPens. :-)
Thnaks! lolol
With uncharacteristic dispatch, the state Legislature approved California's $117.5 billion budget on Thursday, spending Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger the same agreement he struck earlier this week with top legislative leaders.
An overview of California's budget for the 2005-06 fiscal year
The Associated Press
http://www.bakersfield.com/state_wire/story/5584724p-5557109c.html
Lawmakers approved a $117.5 billion budget bill Thursday that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to sign early next week. His May budget proposed spending $115.7 billion. The higher spending is generated by an expected increase in tax revenue for this year, by reducing a reserve fund sought by the governor and by refinancing a loan related to California's share of a court settlement with cigarette manufacturers.
Among the highlights of the state's 2005-06 budget:
- Includes no new taxes and no new borrowing.
- Reduces the expected deficit in 2006-07, once estimated at $15 billion, to $4.7 billion.
- Spends a record $61 billion on education, including K-12 and higher education, and increases per pupil funding to more than $10,000.
- Saves $235 million by requiring school districts to partly fund teacher retirement benefits.
- Imposes fee increases of $457 for students in the University of California system and $186 for California State University students. Community college fees remain unchanged.
- Provides $1.3 billion for highway and transit programs.
- Pays $1.2 billion to cities and counties for money lost when the state repealed an increase in the vehicle license fee two years ago.
- Saves about $40 million in labor costs that must be approved by unions, including a proposal to cut two state holidays from workers.
- Costs the state $206 million by rejecting Schwarzenegger's proposal to reduce state support for the wages of in-home health care workers.
- Adds $20 million to nursing training programs at community colleges and universities.
- Suspends cost-of-living increases for some welfare recipients for two years.
- Imposes $19 million in new civil court filing fees.
Source: Gov.'s office, Legislative Analyst.
How California lawmakers voted on the state budget
The Associated Press
http://www.bakersfield.com/state_wire/story/5584725p-5557111c.html
SACRAMENTO (AP) - Lawmakers approved a $117.5 billion budget bill Thursday that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to sign early next week. Here's how legislators voted:
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Senate (34-4):
- Democrats for: Alarcon, Alquist, Bowen, Cedillo, Chesbro, Ducheny, Dunn, Figueroa, Flores, Kehoe, Kuehl, Lowenthal, Machado, Migden, Murray, Ortiz, Perata, Romero, Scott, Simitian, Soto, Speier, Torlakson, Vincent. Total: 24.
- Democrats against: None.
- Republicans for: Ackerman, Ashburn, Battin, Cox, Denham, Dutton, Maldonado, Morrow, Poochigian, Runner. Total: 10.
- Republicans against: Aanestad, Campbell, Margett, McClintock. Total: 4.
- Not voting: Escutia (D), Hollingsworth (R).
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Assembly (64-13)
- Democrats for: Arambula, Baca, Bass, Berg, Bermudez, Calderon, Canciamilla, Chan, Chavez, Chu, Coto, De La Torre, Dymally, Evans, Frommer, Goldberg, J. Horton, Jones, Karnette, Klehs, Koretz, Laird, Leno, Levine, Lieber, Liu, Matthews, Montanez, Mullin, Nation, Nava, Negrete McLeod, Nunez, Oropeza, Parra, Pavley, Ridley-Thomas, Ruskin, Saldana, Salinas, Torrico, Umberg, Vargas, Wolk, Yee. Total: 45.
- Republicans for: Aghazarian, Benoit, Bogh, Cogdill, DeVore, Emmerson, Garcia, S. Horton, Houston, Keene, La Malfa, Leslie, McCarthy, Nakanishi, Niello, Richman, Runner, Spitzer, Villines. Total: 19.
- Democrats against: None.
- Republicans against: Blakeslee, Daucher, Harman, Haynes, Huff, La Suer, Maze, Mountjoy, Plescia, Strickland, Tran, Walters, Wyland. Total: 13.
- Not voting: Cohn (D), Hancock (D).
- One vacancy.
THIS is an incredible job on the part of Arnold's team given the psychotics that infest the legislature which he must do battle with. He knows there's still a spending problem which is why the Nov reforms are so important. We're making progress, however. And that's fantastic.
Stop making the perfect the enemy of the good. We're moving in the right direction. Next we need to cut off the union's theft of your paycheck for funding their nefarious political agenda.
McClintock votes NO on almost all budgets. In fact he admits to voting NO on every state budget since 1988.
Yep. An incredible screw job to the taxpayers and the unsuspecting (R)s that put him in office to CUT spending.
And (even better) NO NEW BORROWING.
Your emphasis on "New". What choice wording for this con job. There is still $4 billion of borrowing in this budget. This budget spends $6 billion more than revenues. It stinks, all around.
Well that looks good....is it true?
depends on the definition of good.. ;-)
I hear 5 billion or thereabouts...
When will the Gub be openly supporting the paycheck initiative ? Time's a'wastin'.
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