CA: Senate leaders say GOP plan is DOA

AP via SF Examiner ^ | 7/15/03 | Tom Chorneau

[I_Love_My_Husband]

Senate leaders say GOP plan is DOA

---

By Tom Chorneau
Associated Press
Published on Tuesday, July 15, 2003

---

SACRAMENTO -- Senate President Pro Tem John Burton, D-San Francisco, said Monday that a much-anticipated Republican budget proposal weighs too heavily on the poor and elderly and will be rejected tomorrow, leaving lawmakers with no new ideas for solving the California budget crisis.

Burton said the list of more than 100 spending cuts aimed at trimming about $2.7 billion in state spending would get no support from Democrats on the Senate floor when it comes up for debate Tuesday.

"Most of their budget cuts come at the expense of those who are least able to afford them -- the aged, blind and disabled," Burton said. "We think that it's unfair that the poorest in our state bear the brunt of the economic downturn."

There had been some hope that the budget proposal from Senate Republicans might serve as the foundation for a possible agreement between the two sides because much of what was proposed had been drawn from other sources, including some first offered by Democratic Gov. Gray Davis either in January or with his revised budget plan in May.

But Burton said the GOP plan drew almost two-thirds of the savings from health and human services -- something the Democrats will not support.

The state is now in the third week of the fiscal year without an approved spending plan and with no sense that an agreement is on the horizon.

State spending has so far outpaced tax collections during the past two years that California faces a deficit of $38.2 billion by next July if nothing else changes.

Democrats, who control both houses of the Legislature by wide majorities, want to impose a mix of cuts on state programs but protect most services by raising taxes.

Republicans have just enough votes to hold up a budget agreement because California law requires the budget receive approval from a two-thirds majority. They say the state budget can be balanced by cuts alone.

Republican Sen. Dick Ackerman, of Tustin, said in response to Burton a majority of Republicans would have supported the party's list of spending cuts to reach a budget agreement. He pointed out that his colleagues are resolved to fight as long as needed to prevent adoption of a budget with higher taxes.

[I_Love_My_Husband]

ping

[Support Free Republic]

---

GOD BLESS OUR MILITARY THANK A VET! MAKE A DONATION TODAY
	Keep Our Republic Free Or mail checks to FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794 or you can use PayPal at Jimrob@psnw.com
STOP BY AND BUMP THE FUNDRAISER It' s in the Breaking News Sidebar

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

It's getting nasty now!

calgov2002:

calgov2002: for old calgov2002 articles. 

calgov2002: for new calgov2002 articles. 

Other Bump Lists at: Free Republic Bump List Register

[EGPWS]

the aged, blind and disabled," Burton said. "We think that it's unfair that the poorest in our state bear the brunt of the economic downturn."

It's sad to comprehend anyone being destitute as Burtons examples but unfair? OK I guess it's fair to rape the rich and healthy to compensate then right? I don't consider the word "fair" to be the proper word. Unwillful Redistribution of ones ownership is NOT fair!

[I_Love_My_Husband]

"Republicans cutting off money for the aged, the blind and the disabled" thread (part 6?)

[Flyer]

said the GOP plan drew almost two-thirds of the savings from health and human services

. . . because that is where two-thirds of the spending is?

[goldstategop]

If John Burton turns down this list of budget cuts, the GOP should expand the list and submit them for another vote later. The party should not compromise on the issue of taxes. Our state doesn't have a revenue problem; it has a spending problem. And until the Democrats wake up to this fact I prefer no budget to a bad budget that wreaks havoc on California's credit and its families.

[goldstategop]

Yup. If that area is off limits to spending cuts, its hard to see how you can tackle the budget without major tax hikes. Which is exactly the Democrats' preferred solution for dealing with the state's $40 billion plus budget deficit.

[bruinbirdman]

I have heard that an across the board cut of about 4 1/2 percent for two years would fix the shortfall.

yitbos

[goldstategop]

The Democrats consider a measly 4 1/2 % cut in spending "draconian."

[bruinbirdman]

Here is the secret:

Sell 50 yr old house in CA. Move to NV. Put the bucks from old house as down payment on a house three times as large and on the sixth green of the golf course. The difference in paying no 11% CA state income tax virtually pays the mortgage.

More and more people are realizing this. Soon nothing but five families on housing subsidies living in Section 8 single family dwellings in CA.

They are so clever at hooking up commodes to sewer clean outs and making bedrooms out of garages. Bingo, room for another rent paying family.

yitbos

[tubebender]

John Burton is as evil as they get except for his late brother Phil Burton the solialist congressman from SF. John will probably be your next Mayor...

[I_Love_My_Husband]

Na...he's not running! It's going to be Gavin Newsom!

http://www.gavinnewsom.com/

And, he'll be elected for 8 years... :)

He's also pretty conservative!!!!

[hattend]

Senate President Pro Tem John Burton, D-San Francisco, said Monday that a much-anticipated Republican budget [cuts] proposal weighs too heavily on the poor and elderly and will be rejected tomorrow, leaving lawmakers with no new ideas for solving the California budget crisis.

It's much better to raise the taxes on those same poor and elderly, right Mr. Burton? Tripling the car tags doesn't affect the poor or the elderly, right Mr. Burton?