Budget Compromise, State Leadership Falling Apart
| By Elliott D. Petty - Sep 17, 2008 12:08:03 PM PT |
| Also listed in: Courage Campaign Staff |
As the world turns, California's budget fiasco continues. Earlier this week, legislative Democrats gave significant ground in order to reach a compromise with the state GOP which can now be described as the California chapter of Club for Growth, a right-wing anti-government tax policy organization. But the drama moves on to the next act as Governor Schwarzenegger is promising to veto the 72 days late budget. In response, both republican and democratic leaders are eerily coalescing to override any veto.
Initially Schwarzenegger wanted to improve budget language concerning a spending limits and contributions to a rainy day fund. But now he appears to be growing more concerned about the potential of this budget compromise to create yet another deficit in 2009. He's right, but not 100 percent correct. Until we change our budget structure to reflect our modernized economy and eliminate tyranny of the minority through majority rule for budget and tax policy we're going to repeat 2008 again and again.
And Schwarzenegger is partially to blame, in past years he borrowed heavily to pay down debt, increasing the debt service that this budget must pay, squeezing less funds for public education, health and welfare. When you balance a budget by delaying debt with interest, you substantially increase the risk of deficits in future budgets.
The housing and dot com bubbles have bursted, there is nothing left to save us in the short-term. Hard decisions must be made. Thus far Schwarzenegger does not appear to be up to the challenge.
Despite being governor, Washington DC right-winger Grover Norquist has more influence in the California Republican Party than Schwarzenegger. The self-styled post-partisan governor could have had a partner in the Democrat party through this process but lost that opportunity once he chose to reduce the income of 200,000 workers to the federal minimum wage. A rate lower than the minimum wage increase Schwarzenegger championed last year.
Thus far, Lt. Governor John Garamendi is the only 2010 gubernatorial candidate speaking out on this shaky budget. Thus far his rhetoric has been right, but its easy to talk when you don't have to negotiate with legislative Republicans as does Assembly Speaker Karen Bass. The two-thirds supermajority requirement forces her to negotiate with one-hand tied behind her back.
If Schwarzenegger had any relationship with his own party, especially freshman members and those in moderate leaning districts we would have had a more democratic-valued budget months ago.
I have a feeling things are about to get a lots worse before they get much better. Garamendi has drawn the line in the dirt. Ultimately, this year's budget resolution will may or may not put the state back on the right track, but one question will be produced. Which gubernatorial candidate is prepared to stand for the race, provide real leadership and fix some of our problems; giving themselves the chance to make history and be remembered along the likes of Pat Brown?
Initially Schwarzenegger wanted to improve budget language concerning a spending limits and contributions to a rainy day fund. But now he appears to be growing more concerned about the potential of this budget compromise to create yet another deficit in 2009. He's right, but not 100 percent correct. Until we change our budget structure to reflect our modernized economy and eliminate tyranny of the minority through majority rule for budget and tax policy we're going to repeat 2008 again and again.
And Schwarzenegger is partially to blame, in past years he borrowed heavily to pay down debt, increasing the debt service that this budget must pay, squeezing less funds for public education, health and welfare. When you balance a budget by delaying debt with interest, you substantially increase the risk of deficits in future budgets.
The housing and dot com bubbles have bursted, there is nothing left to save us in the short-term. Hard decisions must be made. Thus far Schwarzenegger does not appear to be up to the challenge.
Despite being governor, Washington DC right-winger Grover Norquist has more influence in the California Republican Party than Schwarzenegger. The self-styled post-partisan governor could have had a partner in the Democrat party through this process but lost that opportunity once he chose to reduce the income of 200,000 workers to the federal minimum wage. A rate lower than the minimum wage increase Schwarzenegger championed last year.
Thus far, Lt. Governor John Garamendi is the only 2010 gubernatorial candidate speaking out on this shaky budget. Thus far his rhetoric has been right, but its easy to talk when you don't have to negotiate with legislative Republicans as does Assembly Speaker Karen Bass. The two-thirds supermajority requirement forces her to negotiate with one-hand tied behind her back.
If Schwarzenegger had any relationship with his own party, especially freshman members and those in moderate leaning districts we would have had a more democratic-valued budget months ago.
I have a feeling things are about to get a lots worse before they get much better. Garamendi has drawn the line in the dirt. Ultimately, this year's budget resolution will may or may not put the state back on the right track, but one question will be produced. Which gubernatorial candidate is prepared to stand for the race, provide real leadership and fix some of our problems; giving themselves the chance to make history and be remembered along the likes of Pat Brown?
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