CA: Demos' plan would cut $6 billion

Mercury News ^ | 4/24/03 | Jim Wasserman - AP

[NormsRevenge]

SACRAMENTO -Assembly Democrats unveiled a long-range $6 billion budget solution Wednesday that they contend ``chops down'' the state's mountainous deficit over the next 15 months to a ``manageable'' $8 billion to $13 billion.

Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson presented the plan of budget cuts, borrowing and fund shifts after a nearly three-hour closed-door meeting with 48 Democrats. Dubbing it an ``April package,'' Wesson aims to lobby for Republican support in the days ahead and take a vote Tuesday or Wednesday. The cuts would take effect in the new 2003-2004 budget year beginning July 1.

[NormsRevenge]

Ping

Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson presented the plan of budget cuts, borrowing and fund shifts after a nearly three-hour closed-door meeting with 48 Democrats. Dubbing it an ``April package,''

I cant wait for the May, June and July packages! ;-)

[So Cal Rocket]

The Democrats' package for the next fiscal year contains $2.5 billion in cuts, borrows $2.2 billion against the state's pension fund for public employees and shifts $1.2 billion from other state programs into its recession-battered general fund.

Only in the liberal Democrats mind can borrowing $2.2B and shifting $1.2B from one account to another be considered a "cut".

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

calgov2002:

calgov2002: for old calgov2002 articles. 

calgov2002: for new calgov2002 articles. 

Other Bump Lists at: Free Republic Bump List Register

[kellynla]

Okay, Norm. I need some help here. I only went to Catholic schools through the twelth grade and then to a state university so please indulge me. If they shift 1.2 billion and borrow 2.2 billion how is that a cut. Are they not planning on paying it back? And if they "cut" 6 billion that still leaves over EIGHT TO THIRTEEN BILLION DOLLARS IN THE RED doesn't it??? Sounds like smoke and mirros to me...Why not take McClintok's suggestion and cut 10-15 percent off the top of the budget for the next 18 to 24 months until the budget is balanced.

[NormsRevenge]

Don't look at me! I was never too good with "new math". ;-)

That is what the demRats use to cover their spending excesses or should I say, to retain all the increased spending for programs and bureaucrats they foisted on this state the last few years.

Anything to shore up a sagging voter base.

[goldstategop]

The Democrats opening position was no budget cuts were acceptable. They still insist the deficit be covered with tax increases, now labeled fee hikes. So they've moved a bit since this crisis began but they still have a long way to go to produce a budget for which Republicans will vote. Herb Wesson and John Burton and their pals brought California into this mess and now its their job to clean it up.