CA: Governor preparing for budget pitch

OC Register ^ | 12/18/04 | Jim Hinch

[NormsRevenge]

SACRAMENTO – Days before proposing a package of harsh budget cuts, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to highlight his determination to solve California's problems by unveiling his massive plan to "blow up the boxes" of state government.

Then he will hold rallies around the state to promote a government-reform package likely to include reorganization of the bureaucracy, elimination of state agencies and streamlining of government operations.

Staffers at the Little Hoover Commission, which is required by law to review government reorganization plans, are clearing their calendars for the first week in January, when Schwarzenegger's proposal will land on their desks – most likely on Jan. 5, the day after Schwarzenegger announces the plan in his State of the State speech.

"Everyone will be working on this," said Jim Mayer, the commission's executive director. The commission will evaluate the plan for 60 days, then forward it to the Legislature, which has a month to vote the entire plan up or down.

The plan is expected to be smaller than the 2,000-page laundry list of reform recommendations delivered to Schwarzenegger earlier this year by the California Performance Review, a panel of 275 state employees chargedby the governor with wringing inefficiencies from the state's sprawling bureaucracy.

A few of the governor's advisers, including Deputy Cabinet Secretary Paul Miner, who spearheaded the Performance Review, are said to be urging Schwarzenegger to seek enactment of the entire package. But others in the governor's inner circle are advising a scaled-down proposal that takes into account public opposition to eliminating, for example, boards that regulate the environment.

Proposals to overhaul school governance and consolidate energy and transportation agencies are also said to be out of the running.

[zzen01]

I say we revert CA back to a territory!

[Carry_Okie]

CA: Governor preparing for budget pitch

Knowing Arnold, my guess is it'll be high and inside.

[Amerigomag]

Days before proposing a package of harsh budget cuts

This will not be the Austrian's last gambit. He still has bond money and increasing local taxes to siphon off. In addition he can count on rising fees to take off the sharp edges.

Then we have the matter of what is the definition of harsh. My guess: total spending will increase from 2004/2005 but the Austrian will claim harsh decreases in the proposed increases.

[tubebender]

I can see the Gov doesn't have a clue that cutting spending starts with appointing Conservatives to head Departments and Commissions instead of the leftist he has named lately...