California Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) weighed in Wednesday on the budget plan crafted by her colleagues across the aisle, which they grudgingly released after many months.
"Frankly I wish the Republicans had been as forthcoming back in July, May or January," she said. "As Assemblymember Laird said, 'We've been held hostage for months without a ransom note.' "
The state budget, now setting records for its tardiness, has been held up by the stubborn refusal of the minority party to compromise. This refusal has wreaked havoc on those who depend on state dollars to provide needed services.
Bass said the Republican proposal would make $5.5 billion in cuts to education, $1.5 billion in service cuts to the poor and roll the rest into a borrowing scheme, compounding our troubles in the future.
Cuts to social services will be particularly devastating in this economic downturn. Enrollment in the Healthy Families program is up 7.1 percent; requests for food stamps are up 11.4 percent. And Education Week issued a report showing that California already spends $1,900 less per-pupil than the national average in public education.
Why won't the Republicans compromise one iota? It seems all but one Republican member of the state legislature that has taken Grover Norquist and the Americans for Tax Reform's No New Taxes Pledge. Breaking this pledge is political career suicide. Republicans who have broken ranks in the past have been targeted for defeat in their next elections.
"Effective governing requires compromise," incoming Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, (D-Sacramento) told the Sacramento Bee. "In part because of the pledge, and what underlies it, they've limited their ability to be effective partners in government."
Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has made major concessions from his original January budget proposal. The Democrats have as well with agreements for additional spending cuts, a "rainy day fund" and allowing governors to make spending cuts by 7 percent during a budget year when the state is in a deficit period.
In a recent Public Policy Institute poll on how to balance the state's budget, 56 percent of Californians wanted a plan that would require the Republicans to compromise. But the GOP won't even consent to cutting the ridiculous tax loophole for multi-millionaire owners of yachts and other pricey toys.
It's time for the state Republicans to work for the people of California rather than on protecting their own hides.
"Frankly I wish the Republicans had been as forthcoming back in July, May or January," she said. "As Assemblymember Laird said, 'We've been held hostage for months without a ransom note.' "
The state budget, now setting records for its tardiness, has been held up by the stubborn refusal of the minority party to compromise. This refusal has wreaked havoc on those who depend on state dollars to provide needed services.
Bass said the Republican proposal would make $5.5 billion in cuts to education, $1.5 billion in service cuts to the poor and roll the rest into a borrowing scheme, compounding our troubles in the future.
Cuts to social services will be particularly devastating in this economic downturn. Enrollment in the Healthy Families program is up 7.1 percent; requests for food stamps are up 11.4 percent. And Education Week issued a report showing that California already spends $1,900 less per-pupil than the national average in public education.
Why won't the Republicans compromise one iota? It seems all but one Republican member of the state legislature that has taken Grover Norquist and the Americans for Tax Reform's No New Taxes Pledge. Breaking this pledge is political career suicide. Republicans who have broken ranks in the past have been targeted for defeat in their next elections.
"Effective governing requires compromise," incoming Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, (D-Sacramento) told the Sacramento Bee. "In part because of the pledge, and what underlies it, they've limited their ability to be effective partners in government."
Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has made major concessions from his original January budget proposal. The Democrats have as well with agreements for additional spending cuts, a "rainy day fund" and allowing governors to make spending cuts by 7 percent during a budget year when the state is in a deficit period.
In a recent Public Policy Institute poll on how to balance the state's budget, 56 percent of Californians wanted a plan that would require the Republicans to compromise. But the GOP won't even consent to cutting the ridiculous tax loophole for multi-millionaire owners of yachts and other pricey toys.
It's time for the state Republicans to work for the people of California rather than on protecting their own hides.
Democracy Watch is a blog devoted to debunking extreme right wing Republican rhetoric, media, printed material, blogs, videos and all campaign TV ads that are untrue.
"Why won't the Republicans compromise one iota? It seems all but one Republican member of the state legislature that has taken Grover Norquist and the Americans for Tax Reform's No New Taxes Pledge. Breaking this pledge is political career suicide. Republicans who have broken ranks in the past have been targeted for defeat in their next elections.:
Unfortunately, this is a very true statement. Passing Prop 11 - Redistricting will be the first step in making this scenario more difficult because the districts will become more competitive.
Helen, I'm curious - what is your definition of poor. Is someone poor or rich at $70K a year?