Gov. Gray Davis today asked Leon Panetta -- former White House budget director and chief of staff to President Bill Clinton -- to help fix the state's long-term budget problems.
Panetta's charge is to convene a bipartisan group of economic, financial and budget experts who would help the state's leaders undertake the massive job of reforming the state's budget structure.
It's a tall order, especially since economists have said the state would be forced to either raise taxes or make even deeper cuts. But Panetta, who is director of a public policy institute bearing his name in Seaside, said he's up to the challenge, even with the recall challenge facing the governor.
Panetta said today he plans to start gathering the participants right away and get to work shortly after the recall vote Oct. 7. And he expects to present Davis with the group's recommendations before the governor's State of the State address in January, provided he survives the recall.
``To be credible, this team must be bipartisan and must include key budget and finance experts,'' said Panetta, who will serve as the group's chairman. ``I think it should be made clear that we will be prepared to begin the serious work after the recall is held.''
