Editorial: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's vetoes are out of line

Contra Costa Times ^ | 8/10/9 | Editor

[SmithL]

UNSATISFIED WITH the amount of spending reductions agreed to by the Legislature, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger used his line-item veto to cut another $489 billion out of the state budget.

It may well be that even more drastic spending cuts need to be made, but the governor may have overstepped the law with his vetoes, not to mention the additional hardships that could be placed on needy Californians.

The extra budget spending reductions he made at the end of July took nearly $80 million that pays for workers who help abused and neglected children and $50 million from Healthy Families, which provides health care to children in low-income families.

Also vetoed was $50 million from services for developmentally delayed children under age 3; $16 million from domestic-violence programs; $6.3 million from services for the elderly and another $6.2 million from parks, which could result in the closure of 100, rather than 50, of California's 279 state parks.

Schwarzenegger, like many other governors, does have the power to veto new appropriations on a line-by-line basis. However, Diane F. Boyer, the legislative counsel, contends that he does not have the legal authority to line-item veto existing appropriations previously authorized by the statue enacted as the Budget Act of 2009.

On Friday, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg said he would file a lawsuit challenging the governor's constitutionally protected veto authority.

[Buck W.]

“Editorial: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s vetoes are out of line”

Elections have consequences, Contra Costa Times...

[Mr. K]

When are we going to get ONE POLITICIAN smart enough to just impose a 10% across the board spending cut

all agencies, all departments.

The easy way would be to offer a pay bonus of 10% of the cost savings from any department split between all the employees

That would then be their new budget for the next year. And keep giving 10% bonus EVERY TIME they do not spend their full budget.

I have worked for many govt. agencies - it is ALWAYS Christmas in July when they reach the end of their budget year and have money left over- WHICH THEY HAVE TO SPEND OR LOSE (what the hell kind of incentive is that???)

This is where a MAJORITY of fraud takes place, when they buy a hard disk storage device for $50,000 (and the boss gets $1000 kick back)

They could make more money in a bonus

[John123]

hardships that could be placed on needy Californians

At the rate our politicians are spending... we are ALL going to be needy and suffer from hardships.

Look to Venezuela as an example... Hugo's socialist revolution created shortages and hardships... for everyone. This is NOT a coincidence...

[stop_fascism]

his line-item veto to cut another $489 billion out of the state budget

That would be nice, but I think the writer has a problem with his zeros.