Posted on 07/27/2004 8:23:51 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Reuters) - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and top state lawmakers reached agreement late on Monday for a balanced budget that would maintain existing service levels and not raise taxes.
The Republican governor and top Democratic and Republican legislators described the agreement, which followed a sometimes bitter three-week delay, as "a bipartisan budget." Based on Schwarzenegger's $103 billion spending plan, the budget for the fiscal year that started July 1 would restore some transportation funding and hold down certain fees.
"We have just agreed on a budget," Schwarzenegger told reporters at a late-night news conference in his office. "We negotiated very hard."
A vote of the full Legislature, which is controlled by Democrats, would be held on Wednesday or Thursday, lawmakers said.
During recent talks to reach an agreement, an angry Schwarzenegger called Democrats "girlie men" for not backing his spending plan and not meeting the July 1 deadline.
California's Legislature in recent years has not delivered a new fiscal-year budget by the deadline. Schwarzenegger, who vowed to end business as usual in Sacramento during his election campaign last year, had promised to meet the July 1 date for a new spending plan for America's most populous state.
Earlier on Monday, the state's chief financial officer said California would be unable without a budget to make half a billion dollars of state payments starting on Wednesday because of the budget impasse but should avoid any further Wall Street downgrades.
Budget negotiations had reached a stalemate over funding to local governments, but Democratic state Senate leader John Burton told Reuters earlier on Monday the issue had been resolved.
"We all had to agree to things we do not like," Burton told the news conference.
Schwarzenegger said a budget deal looked impossible six weeks ago but that prospects brightened in the past two weeks.
"We just hung out enough together," Schwarzenegger said. "Eventually everyone got it."
Lawmakers attending the Democratic National Convention in Boston had earlier been put on notice they could be called to return to California for a budget vote.
I suggest you vote for a Democrat as Governor next time since it seems to makes no difference to you.
If Davis had been retained as Governor my guess it would be more than a 7 bill increase.
The Governor is just as equally bound by law to secure a budget by 7/1 as is the legislature.
And I suggest you mind your own business since you don't even live in CALIFORNIA!!!!
I VOTED FOR THE RIGHT MAN FOR THE JOB, THANK YOU!!
AND THAT MAN WAS TOM MCCLINTOCK!!!
LET US KNOW WHEN YOU MOVE TO CALIFORNIA!!!
Honey I was born there and resided there for 28 years. I have 30 relatives who still do... You elected the right man as Governor.
Heck, if it's good enuf for Austria, Arnold's Mother Country, Why Not California 8-?
Because the dem controlled legislature would have to agree.
ahhhh.. you really should come and visit the Bay Area and drive thru the bridge toll booths a few times,, but bring lots of money. $2 $ 3 and $5 are not uncommon out here these days and higher increases are on the way.
better yet , how aout asking folks with kids in collegehow they like the new increased fees too.
Yeah, we elected the guy with an R by his name and this is what we get.
about
Well next time elect a guy with a D by his name and instead of a 7 bill increase you'll have a budget with a 20 bill increase.
The idea was to toss the Rats out by applying heat to them all summer, but Arnold let them off the hook by borrowing 15 billion earlier this year and buying time .. and now agreeing to the largest budget ever in state history of any state in the union.
The only problem is, demRats are never grateful for anything they steal or receive.
What the heck do you think next year's budget is gonna look like? lol
go peddle your stuff elsewhere or move back out here. dare ya. ;-)
You'll never get rid of the rats in CA. Its a rather hopeless cause don't you think?
"go peddle your stuff elsewhere or move back out here. dare ya. ;-)"
How stupid you take me for? Besides, who could afford it? My mother's house 20 years ago new was 100 thou, a house just like hers sold the other day for 450.
My cousin's house two years ago cost 284 thou; the other week it went for 650 thou.
Who has that kind of money?
With a CA GOP that is trying to be a moderate force as is the GOP in general, you may well be right, unfortunately
Lets see what happens--Don't count Arnold out. Lets see what he does now that he has a budget. He's doing everything he said he would and that's got to count. I know a lot of Freepers don't like him--maybe its his wife they don't like. Lets see what he does in New York, Lets see what he does to sink Kerry's election boat. Lets see if he can pull this old state into the Bush Camp.
Vote Bush--Vote Freedom
A conservative GOP in CA would never sell.
CA is lost! Sorry to say it! But its true.
BTW, my mother and cousin live in the hotbed housing market growth known as Sacramento. LOL!
well, apparently lots of folks as housing continues to be hot.
I'd say trial lawyers and union officals for starters...
StinkyMento is too hot for me.
I could handle the foothills but they'll probably be part of a "Sierra Conservancy" soon if the Gub with an R by his name has his way.
Just look at all the fun you're missing out on.
"Just look at all the fun you're missing out on."
Well AZ has what two statewide elected officials... CA has? AZ has two out of eight Dem congressional seats... CA has?
Enough said.
I hear Flagstaff is quite nice. ;-)
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