CA: Schwarzenegger makes the cut

Last week, the governor signed a $131 billion budget amid a chorus of bipartisan congratulations. With state revenues higher than expected, and the governor positioning himself for a re-election bid in the fall, there was relatively little of the acrimonious negotiations that normally accompany the hammering-out of the state's spending plan.

But the governor did do a bit of trimming before signing his budget deal. He used his line-item veto authority to cut $112 million in state funds from the budget. The state lost out on another $63 million in federal matching funds that would have accompanied the higher spending authorized by the Legislature.

$250,000 for a Civil Rights Law mediation program, arguing that the money appropriated by the Legislature was "insufficient to implement such a program."

$500,000 for a low-income housing grant program, arguing that the housing bond "will provide $10 million in new bond funding" for the program. Transportation

$8.1 million in Capital Outlay Support Program for the Department of Transportation.

$10 million for local air districts. The governor argued that there are limited funds for new air quality spending, and halved the amount allocated by the Legislature for local air districts.

$10 million for trauma-care services. The governor noted that local governments should pick up some of the costs for these services, and that other programs in the state budget will help hospitals in general.

$466,000 that would have been used to oversee management teams of schools that have been taken over by the state. The governor predicted that "very few schools will be subject" to state takeover in the coming year.

$15 million for Reading First programs. In his veto message, the governor said he was "concerned that this language proposes to initiate a new cohort of grant recipients."

$37.8 million in child-nutrition programs because "the Legislature did not link this funding to legislation that would require schools to improve the nutritional quality of meals served to California students."

$1.5 million to Cal/OSHA for more safety inspectors. The governor cited an LAO report that found "the levels of workplace injuries and fatalities in California are well below the national average."

$1 million for the Noxious Weed Management Programs. The governor said other money in the budget "will provide a sufficient level of funding to … continue efforts in this area."

and to think we busted our collective arses to recall the Dimwit Davis just to wind up with this sorry excuse...

The five budgets Gray Davis signed (1999-2004) were all much lower than than this most recent $131 billion budget that Schwarzenegger signed. None exceeded $100 billion in total spending.

This $131 billion 2006-2007 budget includes over $101 billion just for the general fund, not including special funds or bond funds. This rapid increase is off the charts:

Note for 2004-05: "The spending totals for recent years are distorted by a variety of actions taken to balance the budget, including borrowing and other one-time factors. This makes year-to-year comparisons difficult." (source)

cut $112 million in state funds from the budget. The state lost out on another $63 million in federal matching funds that would have accompanied the higher spending authorized by the Legislature.

The politicians in Sacramento should have made other cuts and spent money differently in order to get more money in federal funds.

According to the March 6, 2006, SF Chronicle article Hundreds of bridges still need quake fix:

Nearly 550 bridges, many in Northern California, could collapse in a major earthquake because the state has stopped contributing to a program paid largely by the federal government to reinforce them.

More than 1,200 bridges around the state were targeted by Caltrans for strengthening after the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989...

Caltrans quit investing in the program in 2002 even though for every $11.50 the state contributes, it receives $88.50 in federal matching funds.

...
Caltrans estimates it would cost $762 million to complete the remaining reinforcement projects. Because of the matching ratio, California would contribute $96 million and receive $666 million in federal dollars.

It was initially Davis' fault to stop the bridge retrofitting program, but Schwarzenegger has not changed the policy. Instead of spending taxpayer money to improve long-term infrastructure, he promises social spending, such as to "fully fund" education.

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