Assembly passes compromise budget (CA)

[David__77]

(07-29) 16:05 PDT SACRAMENTO (AP) --

The state Assembly approved a compromise budget Tuesday that alleviates a record deficit by slashing spending, raising fees and relying on borrowing that could leave the state facing a financial crisis next summer.

The deal approved in the house's longest session in history avoids raising sales and income taxes, but counts on a $4 billion annual car tax increase that state officials triggered earlier this year and the elimination of a tax break for manufacturers.

After more than 27 hours of negotiations, the budget bill passed 56-22 after $300 million was added in spending to benefit local governments, law enforcement, schools and farmers.

The vote was enough to give the near-$100 billion proposal the two-thirds majority required to pass it. It now goes to Gov. Gray Davis, who has indicated he will sign it.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/07/29/state1825EDT0151.DTL

(This is good news from a political standpoint, and will go a long way to deflating the media-hyped pro-recall forces.)

[CBHagman]

1. I hope you're right about that.

Personally, I've been mentally composing a letter to Darrell Issa for a long, long time. That guy has virtually fomented instability in his state. If there is any justice in the world, he will someday be tarred, feathered, and ridden out of town on a rail.

[deek]

2. this does sound like good news

I'll make my final judgement when I see the details. I spent all day yesterday making phone calls/emails imploring them to protect the health/human service programs. I had to pull out some pretty graphic examples of the consequences for my family and others if the proposed cuts were to be enacted.

from article:

<snip>

The proposed budget largely protects education funding for the next year. Public health and human service programs are also expected to be maintained at the same levels as last year.

<snip>

But because lawmakers could not agree on imposing deeper cuts or raising more revenue through taxes, they delayed for at least a year a decision on how to deal with a portion of the deficit that could reach $8 billion by next summer.

<snip>

Negotiations continued through the night and Wesson said he would hold members on the floor as long as necessary, breaking a 26.5-hour continuous session record set in 1963 when then-Speaker Jesse Unruh forced the Assembly into overtime on an education dispute.

"Yesterday I decided it was important for us to work around the clock to get this job done," Wesson said, reminding his colleagues that he used to coach football. "Sometimes in the fourth quarter, people get tired. Sometimes when people get tired they need to press forward and that's what we've done."


~~~It's amazing to me they pull "all-nighters" like this.~~~~~~~

[proud patriot]

3. Whew ! I'm glad that's out the way

:D