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California Assembly Speaker Bass Responds to Governor Schwarzenegger’s Impending Veto of State Budget

By Karen Bass
Speaker of the California Assembly

The budget the legislature passed earlier today had one main purpose – to stop the real pain that was being caused to Californians because of the budget delay: Teachers who lost their jobs. Child care centers that closed their doors. Seniors who lost their caregivers and students who lost their financial aid.”

They were only some of the victims of a chronic budget problem in California that has been going on for decades. Over the past few months it became clear that California’s chronic budget problems couldn’t be resolved in a single session of the legislature. Not when we have a 2/3 requirement to pass a budget and raise revenues - a disastrous tyranny of the minority that other states have sensibly avoided. Not when we have a revenue system based on what made sense in the 1930s - a system that careens from year to year with no long term stability.”

If the people of California are the victims in the chronic budget crisis, the 2/3 vote and the outdated revenue system are the villains. Because of the two thirds vote requirement when legislative Democrats made cuts and supported taxes-- and when the governor made cuts and supported taxes—a small Republican minority was still able to hold the budget hostage for almost three months.”

If Governor Schwarzenegger had been able to convince even a handful of legislators from his party to support a budget – AS EVERY OTHER GOVERNOR IN HISTORY HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO – we wouldn’t be in this situation. But Governor Schwarzenegger was not able to produce a single vote -- and the people of California were hurting -- so we stepped in to pass a compromise budget that, while ugly in many aspects, at least buys us time to make progress on the real reforms we need.

• Reforming the 2/3 vote requirement.

• Moving forward with a bipartisan commission with budget experts from all sides to bring our revenue system into line with the 21st century economy.

• Looking at two-year budgets and other operating solutions that bring about some stability

None of these can be done over night. And we cannot in good conscience let Californians suffer during the time it takes to fix these problems.

It’s easy for pundits to point out flaws in this budget instead of focusing their power on building support for the reforms we need. It wasn’t easy to pass this budget. There were too many cuts and not enough revenues and too many bitter pills my Democratic colleagues and I had to swallow. But it had to be done.

And the truth of the matter is Governor Schwarzenegger was supportive of this entire budget except for a single provision he wanted that he didn’t get. One single provision. That’s no excuse to close down services for the developmentally disabled and make small business owners mortgage their homes to stay in business.

This week my colleagues and I will meet to override the governor’s veto of the compromise budget. We will not let the people of California suffer. And most important, we will not give up our fight to restore sanity to the budget process by reforming the 2/3 vote, modernizing the revenue system and bringing stability to the process.

Ultimately, a lot of the decisions will be in your hands because fixing the system means changing the state constitution. I know with honest information the people of California will do the right thing.

Posted on September 16, 2008

Comments

The king has spoken and that is that. No you will not be able to overwrite the veto as you will be going against the king wishes and i don't see republican are willing to go against their own king(party leader). Only time will tell who is right :D(i suspect i might be totally wrong this time around :( )
-proud register republican

Posted by: republican at September 16, 2008 07:34 PM

This is ridiculous. My understanding was that the senate leaders were working with the governor and his office on this budget. Now all of a sudden, THE KING, does'nt get ONE (1) small wish, and he wants to veto. We are 3 months behind because THE KING could'nt convince a couple of his republicans to vote for a tax increase!!! Finsih this mess up please, and look for your budget reform next year, and start on it in the beginning of the year, not when the budget is due.

Posted by: Asko Akopyan at September 16, 2008 08:17 PM

I've always boasted about being a fifth-generation Californian. Now I am embarrassed to admit I'm from here.

Posted by: Embarrassed at September 16, 2008 09:01 PM

When Californians are hurting and people are leaving the state in droves, it is not the time to increase taxes. Even Obama says he won't increase taxes if the economy is suffering next year. It's not about bi-annual budgeting or 2/3rds mumbo jumbo, it's about doing your your most basic job.

Karen, you and the rest of the legislature should be recalled. When the people of California are suffering, it's time to do with a little less in Sacramento. We should start with you. No matter the party this November, just say no and throw everyone out of office! Send a new crew to Sacramento.

Posted by: Ken P. at September 16, 2008 09:36 PM

I understand that this is a last ditch effort to get a budget out but at what cost? It will only cause more added problems next year as we now need to plan for an even longer delay in the budget passing next year because of all the crap and issues that were just swept under the rug. All of you should be recalled and replaced with individuals who actually WORK for the money they earn. WHy don't we start cutting the salaries of everyone in the Senate and the House and only give them their tax free 1000$ spending income IF they do their jobs on time. What the hell. In normal society you can't continue to get paid for not doing a job. Everyone knew this was going to happen since Feb. Why did you wait until the last minute. Don't come up here and say "oh we care" because you don't. The only ones harmed by the budget not passing on time is the ones without a voice or the ones below poverty levels who aren't educated enough to speak their minds. DO YOU JOBS!!!

Posted by: Amparo at September 16, 2008 09:50 PM

Wouldn't it be more prudent to increase taxes on all of the industires that have been getting a free ride because of special iterest groups?

Posted by: AS at December 19, 2008 02:32 PM

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