California State University East Bay

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California State University East Bay

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California State University East Bay

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Budget Crisis Extended by Governor’s Veto

Senate President Pro Temp Tom Steinberg

Governor Jerry Brown recently vetoed the California state budget just voted in by Democrats in the state legislature saying that it could worsen that state’s debt woes.

The June 15 action caused trouble not only within the Governor’s own party but left the state’s financial future in jeopardy.

“It continues big deficits for years to come and adds billions of dollars of new debt,” said Brown in Thursday veto message..

The Governor disliked the solution the Democrats had because it, “contains legally questionable maneuvers, costly borrowing and unrealistic savings.”

He also blamed Republicans for not working with him and his party to find a better solution.

The proposed budget contained many aspects that Governor Brown said he could not support, including an increase in local taxes – which Brown saw as illegal – and selling state buildings in order to gain revenue.

The state legislature, who have responded negatively to his decision, saying Brown failed to gain Republican support for his policies.

“We are deeply dismayed,” stated Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento). “The governor, I think, is… a little bit confused between total victory… and progress.”

The start of the next fiscal year is July 1, meaning the state legislature must find a solution and pass the budget by June 30.

The Governor has proposed a solution, in which voters would be asked to vote in a special election deciding whether to extend the sales, vehicle and personal income tax hikes enacted in 2009 or not for up to five years.

Brown has also called for cooperation from both Republican and Democrat lawmakers to make a balanced budget happen.

However, Brown has warned that if a budget can’t be reached or if negotiations for the budget remain at a standstill, then there would be, “more destructive cuts to schools and public safety… a tragedy for which Republicans will bear full responsibility.”

Senate Republican leader Bob Dutton stated that Republican opinions and ideas had to be respected and heard as well as the Democrats.

“Californians deserve a budget that stands the test of time, and that requires the real reforms that they are demanding,” said Dutton, “meaningful pension reform, a spending limit and business-regulation relief for job creation.”

California faces a $9.6 billion deficit that has to be resolved in spite of bickering between the parties and the Governor.

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California State University East Bay
Budget Crisis Extended by Governor’s Veto