AgdaPkt 2003-04-07 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

rem THE BUDGET STORY - Editorials, Opeds, Letters to the Editor Ventura County Star, 3/19/03, We will run out of cash. "Sobering news delivered to those drunk on politics. 'The message I'm giving to the Legislature is ... whether you're a first -term legisla- tor or at the end of your career, do you want to be the guy who has to stand up and say, 'I was the person who was sitting there as California was unable to meet its financial commitments ?'" Sacramento Bee 3/19/03, Peter Schrag: Budget reform — Harnessing the power of disgust. "...the biggest factor in the sponsors' campaign is likely to be that of public frustration. It's usually the groups that sponsor conservative measures that rely on voter frustration. If it suc- ceeds it will be the first time in many years that voters will have opted for legislative accountability instead of shackles." LA Times 3/13/03, Dithering at State Ex- pense: Legislators must stop whining and start cutting the budget "Cut, cut, cut, and then cut some more. That's what the Legislature should be doing, both in the current budget and the one for the fiscal year beginning July 1. In- stead, it's been dither, dither, dither. Every day of dithering costs the state millions of dollars as it spends mythical funds that will have to be covered by borrowing." San Diego Union Tribune 3/18/03, Budget idea: Give governor power to make spending cuts? "Should the governor be granted conditional authority to make midyear budget decisions during this crisis? Governors in 36 other states and Puerto Rico have that authority. What's more, California governors had that power until 1983, when the law was repealed. It's a sensible idea that deserves serious consideration." The Fresno Bee, 03/18/03, State's budget crisis hitting states hard, By Don Pauley, Kingsburg city manager. "If the state is to successfully overcome this most recent budget challenge, it must do so in partnership with local SOME PRESS QUOTES government by affording us the opportunity to work with the governor and Legislature to identify ways for all of us to reduce the cost of government. No agency, program or service should be considered off - limits. So far there has been very little consul- tation and no effort to 'share the pain' equitably." Articles Oakland Tribune 3/20/03, Budget cuts threaten poison control hot line. "'Despite heightened fears about bioterrorist attacks, the state poison control hot line will shut down at the end of June due to budget cuts,' the hot line program director said Wednesday.... If the hot line closes, California would become the only state without a poison control hot line." The Torrance daily Breeze, 03/20/03, Torrance weighs resident views. Budget: The City Council tells community workshop crowd it will try to avoid closing a branch library or making cuts in public safety. "The council — along with an overflowing audience at City Hall — took a first look Tuesday at a three -part proposal to offset the shortfall. Although city officials tried to create a plan that would minimize the impact on citizens, Torrance residents would lose some city services, such as an after - school program at city parks, and experience a delay in others, such as tree trimming. 'This is not a desirable course of action, this is a required course of action,' City Manager LeRoy Jackson said." Oakland Tribune 3/19/03, Davis signs bill slashing spending, $3.2 billion in cuts is targeted mainly at schools. "The action closes a bumpy three -month struggle between the gover- nor and lawmakers over spending cuts to be imposed before the end of the fiscal year. While party leaders said Tuesday they would still con- sider making more cuts before the end of June, some members said privately that the debate over this year's budget is now over, and attention has turned to next year's spending plan. 'I'm not ruling anything out,' said Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson. Continued on Page 4 PAGE 2 /PRIORITY FOCUS Visit the League's Official Web Site -- www.cacities.org