Governor Brown today rolled out a proposed budget, which you can see summarized here (from the Governor)…
Here are responses from our Republican leaders in the legislature:
From Senate Republicans…
Senate GOP Leader Dutton Responds to Budget Proposal
Sacramento – Senate Republican Leader Bob Dutton (R-Rancho Cucamonga) issued the following statement on the budget Governor Jerry Brown proposed today:
Governor Brown’s budget proposal contains difficult but necessary spending reductions, which Republicans have supported in the past as the best way to address our state budget deficit.
Unfortunately, the governor’s proposal is not a complete plan because it assumes voters will support major tax increases, but doesn’t provide solutions if they reject them.
If voters say “no” to the tax hikes, as Republicans expect, it means a $10 billion budget hole come June.
First things first! Democrats need to make permanent spending reductions and enact reforms that change the way state government operates.
There’s nothing in this budget to help stimulate the economy and create jobs. Senate Republicans believe higher taxes will further delay putting Californians back to work.
And from Assembly Republicans…
Assembly Republicans Stand United to Protect California Taxpayers in Budget Crisis
Assembly Republican Leader Connie Conway, of Tulare, today issued the following statement after Governor Jerry Brown announced his 2011-12 budget proposal:
“Assembly Republicans stand united as the last line of defense for California taxpayers. There are not votes in the Assembly Republican Caucus to place the same tax increases that voters overwhelmingly rejected less than two years ago back on the ballot. Californians have sent a strong message at the polls that they want Sacramento to make government live within its means. Assembly Republicans are ready to work with the Governor and Democrats to achieve an on-time, balanced budget that respects the will of the voters.”
Assembly Budget Committee Vice-Chair, Assemblyman Jim Nielsen (R-Gerber), issued this statement:
“Governor Brown today presented his approach to closing California’s $25.4 billion deficit. The next step in this process is setting priorities and finding the absolutely necessary functions of government. We must look at ways to maximize every dollar and spend no more than the state takes in. There’s no doubt that difficult choices lie ahead, but working together I know we can find common-ground for reforms that make government more accountable to the people.”
January 10th, 2011 at 12:00 am
Just say NO to new taxes!
January 11th, 2011 at 12:00 am
This is great news.Lets see if our tough talking conservative legislators can resist the bribes that will be offered to them in exchange for putting tax increases on the ballot.
This is the ultimate lithmus test for Sen. Dutton”s leadership in the State senate. If even one and mean only one, of his boys give in and vote to put tax increases on the ballot, he personally will be held accountable.
His recent statements in response to ideas slashing the budget of why ask me this?-The democrats run and control everything…is not the position of good leadership.
Dutton wanted and waited ever so patiently to become the Republican Senate Leader-that job comes with responsibilty and accountability.
This is not the time for Dutton to sit on his hands or even wash his hands of his responsibilty.
Mr. Dutton, you know that tax increases will further erode our economy and hopes for the return of our prosperity. Will you at least stand up and say that like you believe it?
Mr. Dutton, Jon created and posted a great list of ideas to slash the budget. Even if you just cut and pasted Jon’s ideas and claimed them as your own, then you could post and publish that, eat lunch and then go home early to take a nap. I am sure Jon will be glad to let you use his material if you would so kindly, lease just post it on the doors of other Republicans you lead and then maybe they in turn will post it up and down the hallways of the third and fourth floor.
Kind Regards,
January 12th, 2011 at 12:00 am
Since the 2/3 vote requirement to pass a budget no longer exists, the Dems can’t blame the GOP for a bad budget