Posted on 06/11/2006 9:09:35 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO – A two-house committee approved a new state budget of roughly $131 billion yesterday, setting the stage for Senate and Assembly votes this week that could produce the first on-time budget in two decades.
But Democrats sent the new spending plan to the legislative floors despite opposition from Republicans, with the apparent hope that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger would help negotiate agreements on remaining differences.
Republican legislators, whose votes are needed for the two-thirds approval of both houses required to pass a budget, made it clear that they want changes made in the plan that was approved by the committee.
Democrats said the spending plan meets their policy goals, while also addressing the governor's bottom line of paying down debt and avoiding spending a temporary revenue windfall on permanent programs.
“I feel like we have made real progress and that we are in a position to get a budget in the very near future and have it passed on both floors,” said the committee chairman, state Sen. Wes Chesbro, D-Arcata.
The Legislature has not met the June 15 state Constitution requirement for passing a new budget since 1986. There is no penalty for missing the deadline, and the state often begins the fiscal year on July 1 without a budget.
The budget committee – the scene of heated partisan disputes in past years – was notably civil this year. Republicans gave measured responses to the Democratic committee action, rather than threats to block passage.
“This isn't the end of our discussions,” Assemblyman Rick Keene, R-Chico, told the budget committee. “This is the beginning framework.”
Keene said the committee's actions would add $1.5 billion to the budget deficit expected in the following fiscal year, 2007-08. The Republican governor's budget plan projected a deficit of more than $3 billion in fiscal 2007-08.
In addition, Keene criticized the governor's plan, saying the revised proposal issued last month would add 7,200 positions to the state work force.
A spokesman for Schwarzenegger's Department of Finance said the committee's budget does not include some things requested by the governor: $100 million more for state preschool and about $150 million for local law enforcement.
“We will make an analysis,” said H.D. Palmer, the finance spokesman. “How does it affect the bottom line? How does it differ from the governor's proposal? Once we have that in hand, we will make an assessment of where we go from here.”
Schwarzenegger reached an agreement with school groups on the amount of school funding last month. But there are still disputes over how the money would be spent.
The governor wants to earmark much of $1.2 billion in one-time school spending for programs cut in the past, such as art, physical education and music. The Democratic plan would let school districts and school site councils decide how to spend the money.
The governor wants to spend $1 billion on early repayment of $11.3 billion worth of deficit bonds issued two years ago to close a budget gap. The Democratic plan would spend the money on debt that comes due earlier.
The governor wants to use $350 million in unexpected gasoline sales tax revenue to pay off current or new transportation debt. The Democratic plan would put much of the money into public transit.
The governor wants funding for at least 50 new judges, while the Democratic plan would provide funding for 25. The Democratic plan also would provide an additional $43 million for aid to the aged, blind and disabled.
words fail me.
(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")
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