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TOUGH QUESTIONS from page 7 " " " " - " tors prepared to make the necessary cuts to finance the flip, or will they just delay those, increasing the state structural deficit and putting local funding again at risk again in the future? Will any of the cuts affect cities directly? 7. What About Constitutional Protec- tion? Are state legislators willing to condition the plan on the passage of a legislative con- stitutional amendment on the March 2004 ballot to protect local revenues from legislative raids in 2004 -05 and thereafter? (The plan would not take effect until July 1, 2004). If not, how can they assure city residents they won't lose funding for vital local services when the state gets in trouble in future years? was just those last few pieces that always held them up. This observation is as true now as it was then." San Diego Union Tribune, 7/4103, What Next After Quick Budget Fix? "It would be nice if California seized on today's crisis to review its tax system, its spending desires, and how to recon- cile them over the long run." New York Times, 713/03, No Budging in California. "In California, where Republicans hold no statewide offices and are minorities in both houses of the Legislature, the G.O.P. has found an Arena to exercise some political muscle: the state budget debacle." The Stakes Are High: You Deserve Answers If legislators support or consider supporting the "triple flip" plan they should be willing to an- swer these questions. A sample letter to the editor and to your legislators can be found on the League's website at www.cacities.org /budget. QUOTES from page " "- " "- " " " " " " " "" The Ventura County Star, 7/06/03, VLF Fund Vital for Public Safety. "While no one wants to ask motorists to pay more, the state politicians trying to eliminate this funding know all too well that their actions will have the very serious and very dangerous consequence of pulling police officers and firefighters off the streets, and remov- ing emergency response personnel from our communities." The Torrance Daily Breeze, 7/06/03, State Budget Woes Multiply. "Now comes the pain. The consequences of yet another blown budget deadline are beginning to reverberate throughout California." Oakland Tribune, 7/5103, Parties Are Not That Far Apart on the Budget. "FonnerAssembly- man Phil Isenberg, in the midst of past budget stalemates, was fond of noting that the parties agreed on 95 percent or more of the budget. It The Santa Cruz Sentinel, 7/03/03, Gover- nor, Legislators Still Failing to Accept Reality that Taxes Must be Raised and Spending Significantly Slashed. "Political expediency and Byzantine taxation shifts are not the answer. Raising taxes and significant spending cuts are the only way out, and our elected leaders need to accept this reality and put together a budget. Soon. Very soon" The Los Angeles Times, 7103/03, Sacramento's Bag of Tricks. "State lawmakers are beginning to cook up gimmicks that pretend to solve the $38- billion budget shortfall without tax increases or devastating cuts. That's what they did last year, producing a $10.7 - billion deficit" The Fresno Bee, 7103/03, The System has Failed — California Voters Will Get a Chance to Fix State's Broken Budget Process. "To all those who are angry, here's some advice: Save some of that emotion for the election next March, when you'll have a chance to do something about it." San Diego Union Tribune, 713103, Checks Stop, Pain Begins for Those Who Deal With State. "California's increasingly desperate situa- tion is beginning to resemble "The Perfect Storm," with a convergence of catastrophic circum- stances about to capsize the Golden State." Continued on Page 10 Visit the League's Official Web Site -- www.cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS /PAGE 0