State Budget Impasse

Rather than working on the state fiscal crisis, Gov. Pete Wilson has been working the media. He spends entire days out of the Capitol--in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco--fixing blame instead of budgets. Not only is our governor absent, he is lying.

-- Contrary to Wilson’s charge, the Democratic budget proposal does not contain new taxes.

-- Contrary to Wilson’s charge, the Democratic proposal does not require deficit spending.

-- Contrary to Wilson’s claims, his proposed budget does include new taxes and fees (insurance policy surcharges, waste discharge fees, commercial fish processors).

-- Contrary to Wilson’s claims, his budget does roll over spending (by delaying the start of school for one year for 110,000 kindergartners).

-- Contrary to Wilson’s claims, the governor never provided a balanced budget plan prior to start of the new fiscal year.

In contrast, Assembly Democrats proposed three balanced budget plans prior to the new fiscal year and provided 44 of the necessary 54 votes for a no-tax-increase budget on June 30. At Wilson’s behest, no Republicans voted for the measure.

Gov. Wilson’s posture throughout this budget debacle defies logic. He is holding the state budget hostage in an attempt to further his political ambitions.

JOHN VASCONCELLOS

Chair, Assembly Ways and Means

Committee

D-Santa Clara

THOMAS HANNIGAN

Assembly Majority Leader

D-Fairfield