Assemblyman Simon Salinas, D-Salinas, said he was breathing a
sigh of relief that the long, hard fought budget battle may finally
be over.
Leaders of the state Assembly will begin today reviewing a
budget proposal from the Senate aimed at breaking the 24-day
stalemate over spending and taxes.
Assemblyman Simon Salinas, D-Salinas, said he was breathing a sigh of relief that the long, hard fought budget battle may finally be over.
Leaders of the state Assembly will begin today reviewing a budget proposal from the Senate aimed at breaking the 24-day stalemate over spending and taxes.
“It’s encouraging to see that we’re closer to getting out of these budgetary problems,” Salinas said Thursday night.
Members of the Senate plan to vote on the proposal on Sunday, but lawmakers in the lower house will begin their analysis of the near-$100 billion spending plan now because it will eventually need their approval, in addition to Gov. Gray Davis.
The compromise budget proposal would finance the state’s existing $10.7 billion deficit and impose more than $11 billion in cuts to state services.
State Sen. Jeff Denham, R-Salinas, said he had reservations about the proposed budget agreement, but he did not want to see the state continue in fiscal limbo without a budget.
“I think it’s a compromise, but I’m very concerned about the cuts to education,” Denham said on Thursday. “I said before that I will not support deep cuts to education.”
He said the proposal was a balance of cuts in services and an increase in some fees.
“There are some good things in this package, such as no tax increases, and there are some bad things,” Denham said.
Assembly leaders were also cautiously optimistic about the proposal.
In a statement, Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson, D-Los Angeles praised Senate leaders for reaching a deal, and said, “We will analyze details of their proposal as we get them, and we expect to act on the proposal as soon as possible.”
Salinas said passing a balanced budget was essential in helping the state pull out of its economic slump.
“As long as they are finding a way to reassure the financial industry that we are going to be able to pay for the bonds the state has issued,” Salinas said.
Assembly Republican Leader Dave Cox, of Fair Oaks, said he wouldn’t comment on details of the plan until it reached the Assembly, but added that he was “pleased to hear the Senate has reached agreement in principle on the budget.”
Senate President Pro Tem John Burton, D-San Francisco, and Republican Leader Jim Brulte, of Rancho Cucamonga, made the announcement at a state Capitol press conference Thursday.
Davis complimented Burton and Brulte for their work, saying he was “pleased that the Senate budget compromise protects my highest priority, public education.”
In a victory for Republicans, the plan contains no new taxes although many of the deep spending cuts called for by the GOP are also not included.
Democrats would avoid making deep cuts to education and public health by delaying repayment of the deficit bonds until late 2004.
Schools are also protected, facing no significant reduction from those cuts proposed by Davis in his May budget plan.
While the plan leaves a “dark cloud over the future of school funding next year, if it breaks the stalemate and we can get a budget, that is good news for schools,” said Kevin Gordon, executive director of California Association of Business Officials.
The proposal would also provide most of the money needed by local government to continue services.
