Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger characterized the state's projected multibillion-dollar budget deficit Wednesday as a "state of emergency" reflecting money woes worldwide, and he warned that major public services will be affected.
"Since everyone has to take a haircut here, it's natural that education gets hit, law enforcement gets hit, prisons are going to get hit, and also health care is going to get hit," Schwarzenegger said. "So, it's just the math, it's not me, it's mathematics that tell you that you have to make cuts in those kind of different areas."
The Republican governor was responding to reporters' questions at a news conference featuring a handful of former legislators touting passage of Proposition 11, which would alter the state's process of drawing political districts.
Earlier this week, Schwarzenegger announced that he will call a special legislative session to wrestle with state budget and economic issues stemming largely from a faltering U.S. and world economy.
California's revenues have dropped at least $5 billion more than anticipated – thus at least $8 billion total – and "that number can even be greater," Schwarzenegger told reporters Wednesday.
Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, put the number at $10 billion earlier this week.
Asked about potential multibillion-dollar cuts to schools, Schwarzenegger said he informed education leaders this week that "we're going to do everything that we can to protect education."
"Let us be creative and find a way that even though we have to make cuts, how do we keep the most amount of dollars in the classroom so it doesn't affect our children, because we've got to take care of our children," he said.
Asked to comment on how he might broker a compromise that would include a sales tax increase, Schwarzenegger said he's hopeful changing conditions will make lawmakers more receptive to a deal. He didn't challenge the premise of the question that he will seek a sales tax increase.
"I have great faith in the legislators that they will see that we are in a state of emergency" in California, nationwide and worldwide, he said, adding "I think that after the election it will be easier for the legislators to make certain decisions that maybe it was hard for them to make before."
Call Jim Sanders, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 326-5538.
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