Statement from California Democratic Party Chairman John Burton on Budget Developments
Thursday, July 2, 2009
This week has underscored the intransigence of the governor and Legislative Republicans, who have refused Democrats’ common-sense compromise budget and resisted measures that would have shaved at least $3 billion from the deficit immediately. Their inaction has forced California to issue IOUs for the first time in 17 years.
Senator President Pro Tem Steinberg, Speaker Bass and legislative Democrats are to be commended for standing strong to preserve California’s safety net. To close the massive deficit, they proposed a mixture of program cuts and new revenue from oil companies and tobacco products.
The poor, the elderly, the disabled, school kids and college students did not cause California’s multi-billion dollar deficit. In fact, the governor’s reckless decision to slash the vehicle license fee has cost California at least $16 billion over the last four years. Additionally, the economic downturn has significantly decreased the state’s revenues.
If the thought of offending their campaign donors prevents them from considering modest new taxes on oil companies and tobacco products, then Republicans and the governor must at least tap the rainy day fund to protect the safety net. It is clear that an economic downpour is soaking California even on this sunny day.
I urge the governor and Republicans stop making my-way-or-the-highway demands, to start negotiating in good faith and to stop fiddling while California burns.
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Chairman John Burton on the Budget Crisis
Monday, June 29, 2009
Please join me in thanking Assembly and Senate Democrats for passing a common-sense budget before the fiscal year ends tomorrow.
Late last night, Assembly Democrats passed a spending plan that minimizes the cruel cuts advocated by the governor by raising $2 billion in new revenue. Just a few minutes ago, Senate Democrats followed suit, passing a plan that requires Big Tobacco and Big Oil to share in the state budget sacrifice.
Speaker Karen Bass, President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and their caucuses should be commended for standing firm against the governor’s Draconian cuts.
In order to pass the plan, legislative leaders structured it to require a majority vote. That’s because Republicans have repeatedly refused to provide the handful of votes necessary to pass the plan with two-thirds support.
Disappointingly, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has vowed to veto the Democrats’ budget plan, preferring to play a game of chicken with the budget. He and Legislative Republicans would rather strip health care from nearly one million children and close 220 state parks than ask corporate special interests to pay their fair share.
Now, the onus is on the governor and Republican lawmakers to explain to Californians why they would rather drive the state over a cliff than agree to a budget with a mix of cuts and new revenue.
Please, call Governor Schwarzenegger’s office today at (916) 445-2841 or (213) 897-0322. Ask the governor to sign this budget plan, which minimizes the cuts by sharing the sacrifice.
Peace and friendship,
John
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Thursday, June 11, 2009
Severe doesn't even begin to describe the cuts in the governor’s latest proposed state budget.
In a time when more and more people are struggling, these severe budget cuts would hurt millions of Californians by:
Stripping health insurance from two million Californians;
Ending the welfare-to-work program that helps one million women and children;
Closing more than 200 state parks; and
Axing billions of dollars from public school classrooms.
The grim list goes on.
As Democrats, we stand for protecting California’s safety net. We must do everything possible to minimize the cuts and the harm they will inflict on the most vulnerable among us.
Where is the shared sacrifice in a budget that is nearly two-thirds cuts? Where is the justice in a budget that hurts the poor, the young and the elderly but asks nothing of big corporations and the wealthy? Where is the logic in a budget that will stunt California’s economic recovery?
We must Protect All Californians, Stop the Severe Cuts and Support a Balanced Solution that includes revenue increases.
That’s why I’m asking you to take a few minutes and write a short letter to the editor of your local paper. Tell the editor that California’s budget must reflect our values of protecting the vulnerable and minimizing the harm they will suffer. And the budget must be a balanced solution that asks the wealthy and corporate interests to pay their fair share.
The California Democratic Party has set up a web page that makes it easy to write a letter to the editor about the budget. Just go to www.cadem.org/budget. We have sample letters, talking points, and some pointers to help you get started.
The California Democratic Party is committed to addressing the underlying structural problems in our budgeting process. But right now, we also need to make our voices heard about the state services we all depend upon and the need for a balanced budget solution that includes new revenue.
Make no mistake: We may win this fight, we may lose this fight, but we will make this fight.
If you agree, please take a few minutes to speak up about these unconscionable cuts. We have made it easy for you to do so. Just go to: www.cadem.org/ltl-budget
Peace and friendship,
John
P.S. In last month’s special election, California voters sent the message that they want lawmakers and the governor to work together toward a budget that realistically looks at the services we all need and how to pay for them. We didn’t vote for cuts that hurt all Californians.
Please take a minute to write a short letter to the editor.
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