Assembly Speaker Nunez Says State Budget Proposal is "Reminiscent of Pre-post-partisanship Governor" and "Out of Sync" With Cali

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

• Calls Governor his "friend" who has been ill advised as he was in 2005 special election and expresses optimism after budget is reworked
• Rejects call to pay off Wall Street early while kids on Main Street do without
• Transit cuts inconsistent with posing for cover of Newsweek as "savior of global warming"

By Frank D. Russo

California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez appeared with Don Perata, the head of the State Senate, and the budget committee chairs of both houses today after Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced his revised budget proposal. Both his formal remarks and answers to questions from reporters left no doubt that he strongly disagrees with the Governor on many points, including how the new budget proposal treats the state's blind, aged, disabled, and the poor.

Despite strong words at times, Nunez also expressed optimism that the legislature will be able to work with the Governor on reworking these proposals in an acceptable budget in line with California's values. He said he did not find "shared sacrifice" in the budget, a phrase remarkably similar to the Governor's pet phrase of "shared responsibility" that he uses to promote his health plan.

Here are Nunez' remarks:

In summary when you look at the Governor's May revision, this is a budget that's just plain bad in my view.

This budget is mean-spirited. During the past two years, we have worked with the Governor to do great things for California. But this budget is reminiscent of the pre-post-partisanship Governor.

As a friend, I am saddened and disappointed that the Governor has returned to an agenda that reminds me of the 2005 special election with a budget that punishes middle-income and low-income families.