Without a budget, California has not been able to reimburse
state health programs or release funding for college financial
aid.
Hollister – As the state budget standoff continues, Sen. Jeff Denham is coming under fire from Democrats and Republicans.
Denham, R-Merced, is one of 15 Senate Republicans who refuse to approve the budget for fiscal year 2007-08. Denham’s district includes San Benito County.
Another state leader representing the county, Democratic Assemblywoman Anna Caballero, told the Free Lance on Aug. 9 that voters should pressure Denham to approve the budget. And on Monday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, told Fresno residents that Denham “should get a lot of heat.”
But Denham said he’s standing firm.
“I’m not going to be strong-armed or bullied,” he said.
The budget must be balanced, Denham said, or the state risks greater financial trouble down the line. He acknowledged that he’s approved unbalanced budgets in the past. But Denham said those budgets were passed with a strong economy and the deficit should have been fixed then.
Without a budget, California has not been able to reimburse state health programs or release funding for college financial aid. Kathy Flores, director of the San Benito County Health and Human Services Agency, said the county continues to offer state-mandated programs including adult and child protective services. But the state hasn’t been releasing any money, and county reimbursement requests going back to June have not been filled.
“I would hope that we would have a state budget soon after the Assembly reconvenes on Aug. 20,” Flores said.
Other agencies are having even more problems – two clinics in Tulare County had to close on Aug. 9 and 10, though they have since reopened.
Denham said he’s aware of the problems, but he argued that the state needs to pass an emergency spending bill to keep the government operating until a budget is approved.
“I don’t believe in holding the rest of the state hostage,” he said.
San Benito County Supervisor Reb Monaco said he couldn’t comment on Sacramento politics when asked about the state budget.
“They just have to resolve it, that’s all,” he said. “If they don’t, it’s going to get pretty desperate pretty quick.”
Supervisor Pat Loe, meanwhile, agreed that the state budget needs to be approved as soon as possible, but she doesn’t support criticism focusing on Denham.
“It’s very unfair to take one member of the Senate and target him,” she said. “We’ve got to start working together.”
The state’s Democratic Party is funding an effort to recall Denham, but the senator began firing back Wednesday with a series of advertisements. Denham said he was surprised by his opponents’ tactics.
“It’s surprising, and it’s also unproductive,” he said.
Schwarzenegger has said if the Senate approves the budget, he will use his line-item veto to eliminate the $700 million deficit.
Denham said he’ll believe it if Schwarzenegger “puts it in writing.”
The state senator has also announced plans to run for lieutenant governor in 2010, but he said that decision doesn’t influence his stance on the budget.
“I was elected to the Senate,” he said. “My position isn’t going to change, and my voting record isn’t going to change.”
Anthony Ha covers local government for the Free
