Calif. Legislators OK State Budget

AP via Yahoo ^ | September 1, 2002 | ALEXA H. BLUTH

[heleny]

Calif. Legislators OK State Budget

Sunday, September 1, 2002, 3:57 AM ET

By ALEXA H. BLUTH, Associated Press Writer

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - The California Assembly ended more than 60 days of standoff and approved an overdue budget early Sunday that includes a total of about $9 billion in spending cuts and about $2.4 billion in revenue increases to help fill the state's gaping deficit.

The deal reached in the final hours of the legislative session abandons plans to raise taxes on smokers and drivers to help fill the $23.6 billion shortfall.

Lawmakers hooted, applauded and high-fived after the Assembly voted 54-26 in favor of the budget — just enough for the required two-thirds majority — shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday.

"Tonight I believe we've done it," said Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson, a Democrat who brokered the deal and presided over the longest legislative budget impasse in California. "Although it is not a perfect bridge, it allows us to find some ground where we can at least, for a moment, stand together."

After a two-hour delay on procedural motions, the state Senate concurred with the Assembly's new $99 billion plan and bills needed to enact it early Sunday and the budget was sent to Gov. Gray Davis two months into the fiscal year.

Davis issued a statement Saturday night, commending lawmakers for adopting a budget "in these difficult times."

"Their dedicated efforts led to the adoption of a budget that reduces spending while protecting public education, public safety, vital programs for seniors and health insurance for children," Davis said.

The vote ended the impasse between Republican and Democratic Assembly leaders over whether to raise taxes or carve into programs to fill in the budget deficit.

Four Republicans — who refused for months to supply the votes needed to pass a budget by the required two-thirds majority — finally said Saturday they could accept concessions made by Democrats, including scrapping vehicle and cigarette tax plans.

Assemblyman John Campbell, the Assembly Republicans' main budget negotiator, said Republicans consider the deal a victory in the area of taxes.

"The straight-up tax increases have been taken out of this," he said.

[heleny]

Who are the four Republican Assemblymen who voted for this?

From an earlier post on another thread, two of them are:
Dick Dickerson (Redding)
Keith Richman (Northridge)

[goldstategop]

Yup. I'd prefer there weren't any tax increases in the budget but there are MORE spending cuts than the Rats wanted. Its a step in the right direction and next year when the issue is revisited, a precedent has been set for even DEEPER spending cuts. The fact the Rats peeled off four RINO votes isn't an indication of victory on their part; this isn't the budget they wanted. At least in this budget the tax increases on motorists and car drivers have been removed. In the meantime the Rats should enjoy snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory cause they can't object anymore to even bigger spending cuts in the next round and they will come!

[heleny]

We have maintained a pattern of increasing spending every year. Next year is not an election year, and assuming the number of democrats and Republicans remains about the same after November, the democrats may try to add twice as many new spending programs. Then, to "compromise," they will remove some of the new spending plans, and we will still end up with a lot more spending.

We need a tough governor to use his line-item veto to reduce spending even more. Davis definitely will not, since he wanted the higher spending levels. Bill Simon says he supports smaller government, so he should do a much better job than Davis. None of the other candidates has a chance.

[goldstategop]

Ron Guelke could win if conservatives all swung behind him while Davis and Simon split the liberal and moderate vote. All he needs is around 30% of the vote or so to win. If Simon and Davis got the rest, a conservative Jesse Ventura in California is more possible than anyone thinks.

[Redcloak]

Ron Guelke could win if...

Flying monkeys, butt, etc..

[goldstategop]

If people broke out of the "two party" mindset I would consider that good news for this state. No more "compromising" with the socialist ethos. Having a real conservative in charge would help overturn the "socialist lite" tendencies in the Republican Party and strengthen the hand of true conservatives. We're told we have to go along with the lesser of two evils or we'll get worse from Gray Davis. In truth we don't have to and if we were a united bloc backing the real conservative we could hold Simon and Davis at at 32% a piece and win with the rest. With ever shrinking voter turnout, the math favors a third party candidate. Think it can't happen under the radar? It happened in the spring and it can happen again in the fall!

[buffyt]

"The deal reached in the final hours of the legislative session abandons plans to raise taxes on smokers and drivers to help fill the $23.6 billion shortfall."

Well that sure explains the new SUV tax that Grayed Out Davis wanted!!!! It is amusing, living in Los Angeles this year, with CLOWN DAVIS at the helm.....

[ErnBatavia]

Jesse Ventura in California is more possible than anyone thinks.

Gawd, No! That's all this kooky state needs...another wacko like Jesse "the mind" Ventura.

[Amerigomag]

Mike Briggs (Clovis/Fresno) also voted in favor. Briggs also joined the Democrats last year.

According to Briggs his yes vote was approved by the Republican assembly leadership because he is not returning to the assembly and his vote could help Republicans running for re-election should they have been forced to cast a yes vote because of Briggs' promise to his constituants to hold the line this year (ie; he fell on his sword for the Republican party).

Briggs admitts that in the process he won several economic consessions for his district and a favor for one of his large contributors (a state highway sign will be placed on a State Route 99 exit advertising the commercial business owned by the contributor).

[I_Love_My_Husband]

ping

[I_Love_My_Husband]

ping

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for the ping!

heleny -- thanks for posting this!

calgov2002:

calgov2002: for old calgov2002 articles. 

calgov2002: for new calgov2002 articles. 

Other Bump Lists at: Free Republic Bump List Register

[heleny]

help Republicans running for re-election should they have been forced to cast a yes vote

If he hadn't made the "sacrifice," maybe we could have gotten a few more spending cuts.

[heleny]

From Legislature passes budget, adjourns (California):
"The final vote was 54-26 with Republicans Dick Dickerson, Mike Briggs, David Kelley and Keith Richman joining all 50 Democrats to support it. "