State budget proposal gets a cool O.C. reception

December 31st, 2008, 3:50 pm · 1 Comment · posted by Martin Wisckol, Politics reporter

Here’s a story Sam Miller and I just filed, not yet on our main Web site:

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s new budget proposal landed with a thud in Orange County on New Years Eve, with Republicans lawmakers voicing objections and a local Democrat Assemblyman saying the plan doesn’t have enough bipartisan appeal to win approval.

“It’s completely unfair to shift the burden onto the backs of taxpayers,” said state Sen. Mimi Walters, R-Laguna Niguel, in response to the proposed sales tax hike and other new fees.

Besides direct impact on county residents through taxes and through shortening the school year by a week, the proposal would affect those who rely on MediCal because it would cut state funding of the program.

There would likely be a reduction of optional services like optometry, denistry and psychiatry, said county Social Services Director Ingrid Harita. Additional patient share costs would increase and the income threshold for eligible patients could go up.

Schwarzenegger’s proposal attempts to address a $41.6 billion shortfall over the next 18 months. It drew mixed feelings from Assemblyman Jose Solorio, D-Santa Ana.

“I like that it’s a balanced plan that includes substantial cuts, some revenue enhancements and some borrowing – even though borrowing is part of what caused the problem to begin with,” he said. “But I don’t his plan has enough bipartisan support to get passed.”

Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, R-Irvine, said he would not support any plan that had tax increases or additional borrowing.

“The governor came into office promising to tear up the credit cards, but he hasn’t torn up one,” DeVore said. “He wants to keep borrowing until he can get out of office.”

Specific cuts to Orange County agencies were still being assessed Tuesday. County budget director Frank Kim sent a memo to all departments heads asking them to analyze the impacts of the proposal by Jan. 15.

In terms of cities, Schwarzenegger’s proposal steered clear of several revenue streams local leaders have worried about, said Dan Carrigg, legislative director of the League of California Cities. Specifically, cities’ property tax share would remain intact, as would the cities’ and counties’ 20 percent share of the gas tax. Redevelopment funding would also remain untouched.

“That’s good news,” Carrigg said.

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Cathy Page says:

January 1, 2009 at 10:15 pm

If we, the State of California are in such financial need. Then I believe our leaders need to wake up and take responsibility for their actions or their lack of actions. If spending needs to be cut, then let’s start with their benefits and salaries, seeing they are part of the reason we are in this mess in the first place. We let them know what we want and they choose to ignore us and do what they want and what they think is best for us or for them. We Californian’s know what we want and what is best for us. So please do what we elected you to do. If our elected and appointed officals can’t pass an effective budget on time and with what legal citizens want, need and their desires being followed, then they should be penalized for each day the budget is not passed on time.

How about the DMV? The cost of printing booklets, tests and other information in multiple languages should stop. Give the test in English only. How many other countries give DMV exams in multiple languages? The cost saved on printing alone should help. Same goes with education. English only. Immersion programs worked better than what the schools are trying to do now. You know, catering to the illegal immigrant. What happened to acclimating oneself to their adopted country? If you don’t like it you don’t have to stay. If anyone applying for any type of education in California cannot prove legal status then they should not be given a free education. They should be sent home until they can apply like the rest of American’s had to for citizenship and the legal right to those benefits. Why should we pay for our children and they get the free ride?

What about medical for illegal immigrants? The costs for medical alone could probably salvage our budget problems. We should definitely assist all individuals in need of medical care regardless of legal status. We are a nation that is humane. However, as soon as they step foot in any type of medical facility for whatever reason. Flu, child birth, surgery, whatever, the services should be rendered and the individuals returned immediately to their country of origin. We work too hard to support our own families to keep giving it away.

Now you talk about jobs that hard working Americans won’t do! Bull! Are High School students can no longer work at the local car wash or eateries because they are a haven for illegal immigrants. They have taken the jobs are kids use to do. Give our kids a chance at responsibility and growth. We have jails and prisons loaded with all types of individuals that are released early on parole or probation due to overcrowding and then given free housing, medical and education. Mainly for rehabilitation. Hey, what about instead of letting them out to a program for free we make them work for it at minimum wage. Six hours of program and six hours of work that repays all they are receiving. They could pick up trash on the roads, and beaches. Work for the local city yards, do janitorial work for the community, work at the prisons or pick fruit and vegetables, etc. Working for their freedom. We could immediately release and escort any illegal immigrants that are incarcerated to their country’s legal authorities. Unless of course our law officials judge the individual’s more dangerous to release and send home then to keep.

Let’s clean house and save the legal taxpaying American. Step up and do the job we elected you to do!

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