[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Fabian Nunez
Speaker Emeritus of the California Assembly

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Republican legislators have made it clear they intend to exploit California’s budget crisis to push through policy goals that are unrelated to the budget situation. Assembly Speaker Karen Bass replied to their proposals with a simple, “Not on my watch.” The Speaker was joined by members of the Assembly Democratic Caucus and advocates for the environment, workers rights and the disabled at a capitol news conference to condemn the GOP efforts to roll back protections. Speaker Bass says what the Republicans are really asking for is dirtier air; less access for the disabled, unprotected workers and damaged crops and tourism. Here’s more in an Assembly Web Report.

[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.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

How tax justice in California could erase deficit with $20 billion in new revenues

By Lenny Goldberg
Executive Director
California Tax Reform Association

Despite a huge budget deficit, California’s tax system leaves out opportunities to increase revenue through the closing of loopholes, exclusions, and the implementation of progressive taxation alternatives. When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger cut billions in revenues and borrowed to cover the previous deficit, the burden of cuts was shifted to the state’s vital services, including education, health care, public safety and programs for the poor.

Though the state always faces deficit problems during an economic recession, the vast scope of this year’s $17.2 billion deficit stems directly from the governor’s cuts in revenue and the resulting costs of borrowing. So, where are the revenue sources to make up the difference?

Taxing oil shot down once

California is the only state in the country without a production tax on oil, and taxes oil far, far lower than any state — less than any place in the world our research shows. Two months ago, Assembly Democrats tried to do just this, but were shot down by Republican legislators.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Californians want a balanced approach of spending cuts and tax increases

By Frank D. Russo

76% of California likely voters consider the state budget situation in California to be a “big problem” and only 35% are satisfied with Governor Schwarzenegger’s budget plan. When it comes to making both the tough choices that need to be made on taxes and spending, 36% favor the approach of Democrats in the legislature, followed by 22% for the Governor, and only 19% for legislative Republicans. 47%, the largest segment wants the California budget gap deal with through a mix of spending cuts and tax increases.

by Paul Rosenberg [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Does Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger want the legislature to pass a budget this year? It sure doesn't seem like it judging by his foot-in-mouth disease of the past several days that's irking lawmakers of both parties.

On the heels of playing a week-long guessing game about the size of the state budget deficit, which chafed both Democrats and Republican legislators, Schwarzenegger tried to make a funny at a forum in LA by mocking legislators representing small communities.

"Some of them come from those little towns, you know what I am saying, they come from those little towns and they don't have that vision yet of an airport or of a highway that maybe has 10 lanes or of putting a highway on top of a highway," Schwarzenegger said. "They look at you and say, 'We don't have that in my town. What are you talking about?' So they are kind of shocked when you say certain things. So I like them to travel around."

There's more...

Image courtesy eyetwist.