Dan Walters: Fuzzy outline of a California budget deal emerges

Sacramento Bee ^ | 8/13/8 | Dan Walters

[SmithL]

It's still a long way from being fully cooked, but the fuzzy outline of a deal on the much-delayed, deficit-ridden state budget is becoming visible as the deadline for placing measures on the November ballot draws near.

Secretary of State Debra Bowen says Saturday is the deadline, but Capitol types believe it could be stretched a week or two. And the deadline, whenever it may be, is an important ingredient in any budget deal, because at least one of the pending elements would have to be placed before voters.

The central element is what Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger calls "budget reform" – some new constitutional provisions aimed at preventing future fiscal problems by creating a "rainy day" reserve and giving governors more authority to cut spending when revenue falls short.

He's willing to trade some new taxes – especially a temporary boost in sales taxes that would raise about $6 billion a year – for those reforms, even though Republican legislators balk at new taxes and Democrats don't like spending curbs.

"We believe they need to come out of their partisan corners," Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear said Tuesday, adding that if there's no deal before the ballot deadline, there will be a "total meltdown."

It's apparent that if Schwarzenegger can reach agreement with Democrats on reforms to be submitted to voters, plus other details, he would then work on two Republican senators to vote for the deal, thus giving it the required two-thirds majority, and if that happens, it would ramp up pressure on Republican Assembly members to agree.

It's assumed that Republican Sen. Abel Maldonado of Santa Maria would go along; he broke ranks with other Republicans last year on the budget. And when Bakersfield Sen. Roy Ashburn indicated to a radio talk show host on Monday that he might...

[SmithL]

If the past is any indication, "fuzzy" also describes the math used to balance the budget.

[imintrouble]

Can any of this be changed in the upcoming elections?

Is there deadwood people are hauling around who do nothing but spend our money without caution? Can we trim the wasters?

California has become “Arnold’s Folly”

[WOSG]

He's willing to trade some new taxes – especially a temporary boost in sales taxes that would raise about $6 billion a year – for those reforms, even though Republican legislators balk at new taxes and Democrats don't like spending curbs.

NO Republican should EVER be for more taxes. EVER.

They should sell the state capitol first.

[goldstategop]

The problem is the Democrats will never deliver the spending cap and Republicans will still get saddled with the blame of going back on their word never to raise taxes. I'd like to see what the fine print is on this one. Its not exactly what the headline says it means.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[calcowgirl]

The central element is what Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger calls "budget reform" – some new constitutional provisions aimed at preventing future fiscal problems by creating a "rainy day" reserve and giving governors more authority to cut spending when revenue falls short.

What a bunch of propaganda. Arnold's "reforms" in the past have allowed for more borrowing and even higher spending and laid the groundwork so he could make it easier to raise taxes. And why is he the only governor in history that can't balance a budget without changing the State Constitution.

Warning: Read the fine print. All "reforms" are NOT good.

And giving "more power" to the governor means we will most likely be giving "more power" to a RAT governor in the very near future.