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Assembly Budget Leadership Joins Governor Schwarzenegger in Pointing Out Irresponsibility of Republican Budget Proposal
In this week’s Democratic weekly radio address, future Assembly Budget Chair Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) and current Budget Chair John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) point to impacts of the Republican budget proposal, which is balanced purely through cuts and borrowing. They point out that Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger agrees with Democrats that new revenues are needed if the state budget is going to be balanced responsibly.
You may listen in English or in Spanish.
The transcript follows.
Clink onto the following link for the Assembly Democratic Budget Website.
Hello, this is Assemblymember Noreen Evans with an important message from the Assembly Democrats.
This year, we have the dubious distinction of going the longest in California history without enacting a budget. This unprecedented delay is because Republican legislators have rejected budget proposals from both the Democrats and the Governor. Until last Saturday, the Republicans refused to offer ideas of their own.
Two months past the deadline for California to enact a budget, Republican legislators finally released their own budget plan. Obviously, they knew that the best way to bury bad news is to release it on a Saturday of a three-day Labor Day weekend during the waning hours of a busy legislative session. And their proposal is indeed bad news for California.
The Republican budget proposal seeks to close the state’s $15.2 billion deficit with nearly $11.6 billion in cuts, more debt, and raiding local government funds.
The Republican proposal cuts $5 billion from public schools and cuts billions of dollars more from vital health safety net services to seniors, the disabled, and the poor.
And, the Republican proposal goes far beyond the dollars and cents of budgeting. Republican lawmakers want to change our laws in ways that have nothing to do with passing a budget. At the top of their list is the elimination of basic worker protections like the 40-hour work week. They also seek to weaken or eliminate laws which keep our air and water clean and to defund the programs and agencies that help enforce those laws.
Its no wonder the Republicans tried to bury the news of their budget proposal.
Even the Governor has called the Republican plan “irresponsible.”
Every Republican in the state legislature, except for one, has signed a pledge to Grover Norquist against any and all efforts to raise taxes. Instead of seeking to properly govern California during tough times, Republicans are sticking to ideology.
While the budget delay continues into September, we are unable to make billions of dollars in payments to our schools, childcare providers, hospitals, firefighters, and law enforcement. This delay comes with a huge human cost to Californians. And, that’s the bottom line we Democrats care about.
We are asking Republicans to quit playing politics and to join us in compromising to agree on a budget. A compromise requires everyone to give a little. Democrats have agreed to deep cuts in services which are not to our liking. Republicans need to give a little too. Like the Governor, Democrats are trying to work toward a compromise budget for California. Republican lawmakers need join us. Until they do, the people of California will be held hostage to extremist demands which are out of step with our California values.
This has been Assemblymember Noreen Evans. Thank you for listening.
Spanish:
Qué tal, les habla el presidente del comité del presupuesto de la Asamblea John Laird
Con el presupuesto retrasado en más de dos meses, la semana pasada los legisladores republicanos finalmente hicieron público su propuesta fiscal.
Desafortunadamente, su promesa de ningún compromiso los ha forzado a diseñar un presupuesto que descansa en miles de millones en préstamos, recortes de 5 mil millones de dólares a nuestras escuelas, y casi mas de 2 mil millones de dólares en recortes al sistema de salud y servicios humanos y miles más de otros servicios de vital importancia.
El plan republicano apunta a los programas de bajo costo como el Servicio de Cuidados a Domicilio para los discapacitados y la rehabilitación de alcohol y drogas.
También despedirá a los trabajadores sociales que investigan casos de abusos y negligencia a los niños y ancianos de California
Entonces no es sorpresa que el gobernador Schwarzenegger al unísono con los demócratas haya declarado el plan republicano como “fiscalmente irresponsable.”
Por otro lado, el gobernador ha declarado que el presupuesto presentado por los demócratas es muy “valiente.”
El gobernador ha instado a los legisladores republicanos a aceptar el plan demócrata el cual esta equilibradamente balanceado con nuevos recursos y recortes específicos.
Es cada vez más evidente quien tiene secuestrada la opción de aprobar el presupuesto.
Pero así como los legisladores republicanos se aferran a su posición ideológica de ahogar al Estado, la demora del presupuesto tiene serias consecuencias para los más vulnerables californianos.
Nuestros proveedores de Medi-Cal predicen que sus fondos se agotarán en menos de un mes.
Cerrar el Medi-Cal pondría en riesgo la salud física y financiera de las familias más vulnerables y sofocaría las costosas salas de emergencia con sufrimientos innecesarios.
Nuestras escuelas, policías, bomberos y gobiernos locales dependen del financiamiento estatal.
Servicios importantes como estos se verían seriamente perjudicados sin su más funcional socio.
Desafortunadamente, los legisladores republicanos tienen miedo que un compromiso en el presupuesto fiscal sea visto como una señal de debilidad por sus constituyentes.
Entonces Sacramento no es el lugar para tener un debate sobre el presupuesto este año.
Es hora de que los demócratas y republicanos a través de todo California comiencen a conversar.
Nuestras mesas de cocina, cajas de mensajes electrónicos y los cafés se deben convertir en sitios donde los extremos partidarios no tengan cabida para que un dialogo constructivo pueda llevarse a cabo.
Converse con su familiar que es republicano en el condado de Orange, o su vieja amiga en la Sierra.
Anímelos a ponerse en contacto con sus representantes republicanos para hacerles saber que ustedes desean un acuerdo entre ambos partidos.
Gracias por su atención. Les habló el presidente del comité del presupuesto John Laird.
Comments
The current budget impasse accomplishes what the Republican minority wants..less government and no new taxes. The Republican minority has no motive to legislate a budget. They are happy just the way things are. I think these Republican legislators are doing more harm than any terrorist could do to California. The Republican's "less government approach" will cause crime to increase as criminals are released early while there are less police to protect us. The sick are unnecessarily dying do to lack of life saving medical care they need. Is there any anti-terrorist law that could protect us from these Republican-anarchist?
Posted by: atze at September 6, 2008 10:47 AM
Cuts to schools, figures. My daughter goes to school in the San Bernardino School District and they already can do nothing for the kids. Her school does not even meet state standards at this time. The district will not even allow us to pay for educational trips and such. Sure let's cut back some more. The sick, elderly and poor, let's take what little they have now, makes sense. With the budget not being signed there is very soon going to be parolees released into communities insted of programs they are either mandated to by law, or want to go to to try and better their lives because these programs are contractors for the state. These service providers have not been paid for services since June, some have already folded and more will before long. The same for those with mental health issues who are being turned away from services and treatment. So I would say it is a public safety issue we also have. By the budget not being intact people are losing homes, jobs, medical coverage for their children and many will loose a vehicle needed for work. What the republicans are doing is criminal. If a private citizen were to do to another person what the republicans are doing to the state of California they would be criminally prosecuted. Think about it, and think about it when you go to the polls in November.
Posted by: James at September 6, 2008 11:57 AM
I agree with Assemblymember Noreen Evans, this has to stop we need reform now. How else will we cut our deficit without raising taxes. No one wants to pay taxes, but that comes at an expense to our young school children and our old geriatric patients. What has this world come to? The bill has to be signed soon or our economy will suffer severly. State workers can't live off of minimum wage and now they are being paid less then that.How long will it be before they can't pay their house mortgage and get forclosed or the child care expenses, how long do you think child care workers will watch our children for free? People will lose jobs over this. We need a bill signed AND FAST!!!
Posted by: TANYA STALLING at September 10, 2008 10:16 AM
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