Setting the Record Straight on Budget Negotiations
Posted on July 2, 2009
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By Randy Bayne
You gotta love Noreen Evans, Chair of the Budget Conference Committee. While Governor Schwarzenegger has been lying to the people of California, Evans has consistently held the line – along with Senate President Darrell Steinberg and Assembly Speaker Karen Bass – honestly seeking the best possible resolution to the budget crisis. Make no mistake, at present California is in a budget crisis; a crisis that seemingly has no end in sight as long as Republicans and the Governor continue to lie to the people of California with rhetoric about so-called shared sacrifice.
The Republican idea of shared sacrifice is much sacrifice by children, the elderly, the disabled, college students from working families, and state park lovers, and none from big oil, corporations, or their weathy benefactors.
Evans sets the record straight in a marvelous post at Budget Blog where she lays out some of the lies Schwarzenegger has been spouting and soundly refutes them with the truth. Below are a list of the lies outlined by Evans followed by my comments. Follow the link to read the full post by Assemblymember Evans.
The Legislature only had endless hearings and no negotiations.
Evans points out that the Conference Committee, including Republican members, has been meeting to negotiate and has reached agreement on several issues which Schwarzenegger has roundly objected to. The Governor’s idea of negotiation is that you agree with him 100%.As soon as agreement between Democrats and Republicans is within reach, Schwarzenegger sabotages the negotiated resolution with threats of veto.
If anyone is guilty of refusing to negotiate, it is Governor Schwarzenegger.
The Legislature is protecting special interests.
“This is true only if one defines special interests to be children, the elderly, the disabled, college students from working families, and state park lovers,” writes Evans. Of course, Republicans and their Governor don’t consider oil and tobacco companies and the extemely wealthy “special interests.”
The Legislature must look at reforming state pensions, CalWORKS, and in-home care.
This is just plain bull. “Reform” in these areas doesn’t save one thin dime in the current crisis, and it is doubtful reforms will do any good in the future. Evans points out that “very single one of the so-called “reform” initiatives written by the governor were resoundingly rejected by the voters.”
The Legislature must solve the entire budget problem.
This has already been done, but the solutions were rejected by the Republicans and the Governor.
Governor Proposes Suspension of Proposition 98 School Funding Law
Posted on July 2, 2009
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One proposal from Governor Schwarzenegger to find money to close the budget gap is deeper cuts to education. The Governor proposes suspension of California’s minimum funding guarantee for schools, Proposition 98. Below are reactions from the current State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) and from one of the people who hopes to replace him.
“The Governor continues to attempt to balance the budget on the backs of our students and our schools. Suspending Proposition 98 is a shortsighted approach that drops school funding into financial quicksand and will harm a generation of students.
“Our schools already have absorbed nearly $12 billion in cuts from a budget passed just months ago. As a result, schools have had to cut summer school; class sizes are going up; teachers and support staff have been laid off; and art, music, and sports programs are being eliminated. The list of tragic consequences of our budget crisis continues to grow.
“California needs a well-educated, critically thinking, and problem-solving workforce in order to improve and grow California’s economy. Public education is the key to unlocking the potential for success that our students possess. It is wrong-headed to cut education when we desperately need to nurture and support the students in our schools today who will be the backbone of our economy in just a few short years.
“Proposition 98 was passed by the voters of California to provide a floor of funding for our schools. Suspending it simply pulls the rug out from under our students and the future of our state.”
From SPI candidate Assemblymember Tom Torlakson:
“I am adamantly against suspending Proposition 98. The students of California and our schools have suffered far too much already. The Governor had the option to avert a suspension of Proposition 98 and an additional $3 billion in further cuts. Instead he chose to put our schools and the education of our kids at risk. There are many other solutions to the budget crisis that would not hurt the children of California.”
Why don’t we just go Medicare for All?
Posted on July 1, 2009
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That’s the question Lt. Governor John Garamendi posed to President Obama during the President’s online health care town hall. Here is the whole question.
“Mr. President, I’m Lt. Governor John Garamendi from California. Thank you so very much for your leadership on this crucial issue for America. Mr. President, we actually solved this problem 41 years ago when we created Medicare. It’s a program that works and provides coverage for everyone. Why don’t we just go Medicare for All? Send your insurance premiums to the Medicare office, have universal coverage, have a benefits package that is uniform across the nation. It’s efficient, it’s effective, and it’s a whole lot cheaper. Why don’t we just do that?”
Good question.
More information on the President’s online town hall
Public Employees Protest Governor at Capitol
Posted on July 1, 2009
Filed Under Budget, Photographs, Quick Note | Leave a Comment
While the Assembly debates budget fixes, and Governor Schwarzenegger continues to sit idly by watching California drown in the bathtub, inside the capitol, outside public employees and their supporters are rallying to try and convince the Governor and Republicans to be responsible.
Karen Bentley: Solo Blues for Violin and Piano
Posted on July 1, 2009
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My cousin, Karen Bentley, plays violin and piano simultaneously in Dan Tepfer’s Solo Blues for Violin and Piano. Filmed in Shoal Creek, Alabama on June 16, 2009.
A Reminder – CA Already Has a Budget in Place. The Cuts Start Tomorrow.
Posted on June 30, 2009
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A lot of people are still talking in terms of getting the budget done on time. The budget is actually already done, the legislature having passed it in February for 2009-2010. It’s just so out of balance it really doesn’t matter now. If you don’t have money to spend a spending plan doesn’t do you much good.
No: Arnold’s Plan is a Quick and Dirty Power Grab
Posted on June 30, 2009
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By Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi, chair of the State Lands Commission
The Schwarzenegger Administration, through the California Department of Finance, wants to “drill baby drill” off the Golden State’s coastline, and they’re willing to undermine 70+ years of checks and balances to do it. Will we let them get away with it?
In late January, I joined California Controller John Chiang in a two-to-one vote of the California State Lands Commission (SLC) to reject what would have been the first new oil lease in California waters in more than 40 years.
CA-10: SEIU Endorses Garamendi for Congress
Posted on June 29, 2009
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Citing his lifelong support for working families as a California legislator, Insurance Commissioner and Lieutenant Governor, SEIU California State Council today announced its endorsement of John Garamendi to represent California’s 10th Congressional District in the United States Congress.
We Believe…
Posted on June 27, 2009
Filed Under Budget | 1 Comment
Many churches have a “statement of faith” in their church documents. These statements basically layout the essential beliefs of the church and help people understand where a particular church stands and usually start with “We believe…”.
In this week’s Democratic radio address, Budget Chair Noreen Evans outlines a brief Democratic “statement of belief” as it relates to the current budget stalemate.
“We believe it makes sense to increase the tobacco tax a little rather than fire a lot of teachers.
“We believe it makes sense to charge oil companies for the oil they take out of the ground rather than take away lifesaving drugs and healthcare for children.
“We believe it makes sense to help middle class kids overcome the high costs of college rather than overfill a rainy day fund as the Governor’s office has proposed.
“Assembly Democrats are continuing to work and to negotiate in order to solve the entire budget deficit—in the balanced way Californians want and deserve.”
And I might add, do so responsibly.
Governor Schwarzenegger’s Irresponsibility Responsible for CA Budget Debacle
Posted on June 27, 2009
Filed Under Budget | 1 Comment
Note to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger: It is you, Sir, who is responsible for the current fiscal collapse in the state of California. Not you alone, but certainly you were the catalyst that started the entire downward spiral by being irresponsible yourself.
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