GOP Proposes Massive Budget Cuts, Arnold Digs It

Shocking right, that the GOP would go after the most vulnerable Californians in their quest to reach their distorted ideas of "fiscal responsibility". They have used this impasse to target the programs they dislike the most. LAT:

After holding up the state budget nearly a month past deadline, Senate Republicans offered Tuesday to end the impasse if Democrats would move tens of thousands of poor families off welfare and make dozens of additional program cuts.

The Republicans will present their proposed state budget before the full Senate today. It would cut numerous programs Democrats hold dear, including the elimination of an institute for labor studies at the University of California. The budget plan includes nearly $1 billion in spending reductions beyond those in the bipartisan plan approved by the Assembly on Friday.

How's that for a lede? It's good to see the Times resting the blame squarely on the Republicans shoulders. They are the ones causing this impasse. It took a long time for them to actually come forward with their proposal for ending this thing. I can't say that I am surprised that the Republicans would also target the UC Berkeley labor center. They have wanted to eliminate it for years and are now inventing a budget crises so they can call for it to be closed.

The welfare cuts would revive what Arnold wanted to do and would take away state assistance to 40,000 families. Not only that, but they think they can take $80 million out by dispatching investigators to state aid recipients homes to interrogate them in an attempt to find fraud. Great message they are sending there.

They also want to get rid of 6,000 state jobs that are currently unfilled. There is no particular reason listed for those jobs to be eliminated, that I have read about. Just that they are open, so clearly they are unneeded right? Who cares if it is a one day gap, or if they are in the middle of hiring for that process.

Keep in mind that the Republicans aren't just pushing for no operating shortfall, they have proposed cuts totaling $1 billion, which would leave a $300 million surplus.

Oh and as for Arnold, he is actually digging these cuts.

"Don't be in a rush," Schwarzenegger said while touring a San Diego reservoir. "Every time they negotiate, the numbers are coming down and down and down, and that of course is great for the taxpayers of California."

That should shut the door on any notions about Arnold pressuring the Republicans to take the Assembly deal and not continue to negotiate. His (in)actions prove that he is not particularly interested in a swift resolution to the impasse. Perhaps he is trying to polish up his conservative credentials. They have been a bit tarnished as of late. This is not a positive development.

Meanwhile, the moderate Republican targeted by the Education Coaltion has endorsed these cuts.

"My goal and our caucus' goal is to have a balanced budget and to make sure we cut out the pork," Denham said. "We fully fund education, the UC/CSUs. And fully fund law enforcement."

They are digging in and Arnold appears to have joined them. Today's sessions should have some fireworks.

(See this California Progress Report post on the environmental impacts of the Republican proposal.)