Digital News Report – Republicans claim Democrats are playing politics with the California budget.
Last month Republicans did not allow Gov. Jerry Brown to put an initiative on the ballot that would have provided for tax increase extensions. Brown said this will force the state to make extensive cuts in education and public safety.
“The Governor must be ready to stand against the crowd to lead a broken legislature out of a morass of poisonous partisanship,” the governor’s office said in a statement.
State Senator Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar) says the state does not need to resort to deep cuts. “I’m disappointed to see Democrats resort to scaring the public by threatening to close schools, and reduce public safety in an attempt to wrestle support for $50 billion worth of unpopular tax increases and extensions,” the senator said.
Huff said that Senate Democrats have already rejected some of Brown’s spending cuts, raiding special accounts like the Off Highway Vehicle Funds to cover the gap. “These one-time gimmicks and raids will only result in multi-billion budget deficits in future years”, Huff told Digital News Report.
“Our door remains open. We call on the Governor and the Majority Party to join us in negotiations to craft a true compromise agreement”, Huff said.
By Mark Williams