May 14, 2007

Post-Partisan budget react

The governor's revised budget is almost universally panned -- by the Senate Republican Caucus -- for spending and borrowing too much money. And that's without a quote from Tom McClintock. In truth, though, few of the members making those comments would be willing to suspend Proposition 98 or make the other kinds of cuts necessary to move in the direction they advocate. Most of them, as part of their health care proposal, supported an increase in Medi-Cal reimbursement rates. Their comments do make for good theater, though, and they might even be useful to the governor by making him look more reasonable to the Democrats with whom he will be negotiating. They, of course, are ripping him for not spending enough.

UPDATE: Here is Democrat Jenny Oropeza, chairwoman of the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee:

“Once again, the governor proposes cuts that fall disproportionately on the backs of those who can afford it least: The poor. I will not support a budget that hurts children. Cuts such as cash grants for parents on CalWORKS only makes it harder for the children of the working poor to eat nutritious food, stay healthy and do well in school. Eliminating cost-of-living-adjustments for the disabled, blind and deaf who receive SSI/SSP is unacceptable."

Posted by dweintraub on May 14, 2007 2:44 PM