CA: Schwarzenegger says budget can't be balanced on cuts alone (aRnold 'Re-Pete' Wilsonegger)

Sac Bee ^ | 4/8/08 | Kevin Yamamura

[NormsRevenge]

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Tuesday that he doesn't believe the state can solve its $8 billion budget hole in the next fiscal year through cuts alone and called on lawmakers to "get very creative" in finding new revenues that don't qualify as taxes.

"By law I have to balance the books, and also I have promised people of California that we will do it by being fiscally responsible and by making sure that we live within our means," Schwarzenegger said at a town hall-style meeting in Modesto. "And we have to find revenues this year, because I don't think that we can do everything through cuts. So I think that the legislators have to get very creative, because I dislike raising taxes."

Since January, Schwarzenegger has emphasized roughly 10 percent in across-the-board cuts to resolve the state's budget problems this year rather than raising new revenues, as Democrats have proposed. But the Republican governor increasingly has alluded to new revenue sources that could be tapped, going so far in February as to suggest that the state should close $2.5 billion in tax credits identified by Legislative Analyst Elizabeth Hill before specifying he was not necessarily backing any particular proposal.

The Republican governor campaigned on a no-new-tax pledge during his 2006 re-election effort ...

[NormsRevenge]

..called on lawmakers to "get very creative" in finding new revenues that don't qualify as taxes.

--

get ready to get nickel and dimed to death..

Is that the Fat Lady I hear warming up off stage?

[NormsRevenge]

"By law I have to balance the books, and also I have promised people of California that we will do it by being fiscally responsible and by making sure that we live within our means,"

A little late for April Fool's but..

[meyer]

"....finding new revenues that don't qualify as taxes."

Yeah, right. If the government is confiscating money from the earners, then it's a tax. Plain and simple. They can call it a fee, a fine, an assessment - they can call it 'spaghetti and meatballs if they want - but it's still a tax.

[Ron in Acreage]

YES YOU CAN ARNOLD!!

You friggen’ LIAR!

[kellynla]

[dynachrome]

“Schwarzenegger has emphasized roughly 10 percent in across-the-board cuts’

Real cuts or the phony “cut the budget 10% cuts”?

[paul51]

"get very creative" in finding new revenues that don't qualify as taxes.

We have to learn to live within our means so....let's raise revenue. I have a better idea. Instead of 10% cuts, let's make it 20%

[goldstategop]

Arnold wants to raise revenue without raising taxes. The only way to do that is to impose new fees. Incidentally, the Democrats can do that by a simple majority vote, by-passing potential Republican opposition to increased taxes.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Amerigomag]

Democrats can do that by a simple majority vote,

Not without the cooperation of the Austrian a$$....

[goldstategop]

If you heard the Austrian, he's open to it, as long as its not called a "tax." All the Democrats need is to be creative and they have in Red Arnold a stalwart liberal friend.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[RichInOC]

I propose we start selling the state lege into slavery, then.

[rawhide]

If you heard the Austrian, he's open to it, as long as its not called a "tax."

Perhaps something along the lines of Bush Sr 'revenue enhancements'?

[willgolfforfood]

That's one HOT Rino!!!

Too bad I'm into people.

[eyedigress]

Thank God Tennessee is only at 267 mil, Cali is in trouble and the best they can do is hang on. Taxing the makers to leave will amplify his problem. Nissan moving to Nashville wasn’t a boon in his pocket.

[lainie]

but..but...Arnie loves puppies. Isn't that enough? (This is one mighty fine looking dog.)

[Revolting cat!]

It seems that Arnie dyed the dog’s fur to be the color of his own hair!