[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

The California Field Poll has just released figures from their survey of registered voters, which they describe as “paradoxical views about the state deficit.”

This survey of over a thousand voters, gives us a big clue as to why we are in the mess we are in when it comes to the budget and getting our state’s fiscal house in order. In short, voters say that they prefer that the massive budget deficit be dealt with mostly by spending cuts over being dealt with by mostly tax increases. As a general principle, they say this overwhelmingly—63% to 26%. But when asked about making cuts in specific areas of the budget, by even larger margins they oppose cuts in the vast majority of these areas. And they have deep concerns about budget cuts in health, an area measured in some detail as to different kinds of health programs funded by the state budget.

by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

It's unusual when a government press office takes on the state's major newspaper. But that's just what happened last Friday.

The LA Times story noting that Gov. Schwarzenegger is exploring new taxes apparently struck a nerve, as the Governor's rapid response team went into full gear to try to prevent it spreading.

In a memo that was distributed to broadcast outlets only, the Schwarzenegger team called the story "inaccurate." "The Governor's staff HAS NOT been holding private meetings with stakeholders to prepare them for a tax increase -- that is 100 percent inaccurate," the memo read. "The Governor's staff has met with a variety of groups to discuss the budget deficit. The staff has said that all ideas are on the table, but this administration believes we cannout tax our way out of our systemic budget problem."

The memo also took aim at "another inaccurate story story that relied on unnamed sources." That one was about the Governor's position backing a story to run a transmission line through a state park. The memo didn't mention the Schwarzenegger version of that story.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Is it really that bad? Governor Schwarzenegger says California's budget deficit has reached $20 billion, but there may some strategy behind an inflated figure, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Even if the deficit is alittle lower, starting out bleak can force the hand of the Republicans,who hide behind their "no tax pledge" to avoid responsibility.

Our previous governor, Gray Davis, got in hot water for inflating the budget deficit to push for higher taxes, so it wouldn't be unprecedented for Arnold to be doing the same thing, writes Dan Walters in today's Sacramento Bee.

To his credit, perhaps, the Governor continues to assist health care reform can be passed and signed into law, and wants to bring back a bill with the same elements of last year'sfailed attempt, the Associated Press reports. The one thing he forgetto mention was how he intends to pay for it.

There's more... 

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Instead of working to balance the budget with lawmakers, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has been bellowing carbon from his private jet with trips up and down the state to editorial boards in Republican outposts. He skirts talk of the budget deficit he created with billions in tax cuts from the repeal of the vehicle license fee. Instead, he focuses on an executive power grab he calls "budget reform."

But where's the details of his proposal?

Four months after rolling the proposal -- a re-do of the one voters solidly rejected in 2005 -- Schwarzenegger has failed to produce the legislation for review. No lawmaker has introduced the proposal on his behalf (not even a Republican), even as a courtesy.

Sound familiar? It should.

Schwarzenegger went nearly nine months before putting his health care proposal into bill form. And when he finally did, he couldn't find a single author or vote for it.

Arnold's budget reform notion -- which will have no effect on this year's budget -- is nothing more than that. Perhaps he should focus on the problem at hand, take ownership of it, and then show some leadership. The "don't blame me" act he's putting on isn't working, particularly among legislators.

by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

As long as Governor Schwarzenegger keeps his promise not to seek higher taxes to fix California’s budget deficit, he will have the support of Republican lawmakers.

As long as Republican lawmakers support the Governor’s budget program, the Democrats will be unable to gain media traction for any plan to mix in tax hikes with budget cuts.

The press corps will label any plan that lacks bipartisan support, “petty, partisan politics” (to paraphrase Pat Brown).

This ‘take’ by the press corps means it will be unlikely that public opinion can be mobilized against a “cuts only” solution to the budget. Republicans don’t care about public opinion in any case – just the opinion of the majority that dominates the primary elections in their district. But if there ever was a chance, the “free” media outlets have ended it.

To offset the blame that will follow from deep cuts in public education, freed felons and the like, the Governor has hit the stump with a proposed ‘reform’ package that is really warmed over ‘Wilsonism’ - a higher reserve plus seizing from the Legislature the authority to suspend state laws if cash looks tight.