Area assemblywoman has questions about governor's latest budget proposal
On New Year's Eve, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration released a new budget proposal in an attempt to ward off the imminent fiscal crisis faced by the state.
Earlier in December, Democrats in the Legislature passed a revised budget, but it remained to be seen if the governor would sign it. A number of Republicans said they opposed the budget because it included tax increases.
Officials say the state could run out of money by February.
Assemblywoman Wilmer Amina Carter, a Democrat from Rialto, weighed in Friday on the latest plan by the governor to ease the state budget deficit.
Question: What is your take on the new budget proposal?
Answer: As far as I can see it's pretty much the same as our proposal in December. It's just that he's ramped it up a bit. He's added some things that were not in there before. Most of the things we had discussed, just not at this level.
Q: Is there anything that surprised you in the proposed budget?
A: Reducing the income tax credit for dependent children. It would go from $309 to $99. That's just tentative. It's a drastic reduction. I just don't think I would want to consider that, although everything is on the table.
Q: Anything else?
A: The borrowing looks like it's been increased. However as I'm looking at it, it looks like it's for an 18-month period, rather than one year.
Q: Are you supportive of the governor's budget proposal?
A: No. A lot of it I am. I know that we are going to have to do things we don't want to do. Most of the items we discussed before, but not at the level he has it -- the Prop. 10 funds, the tobacco tax. He's included transferring that money, but the problem is that it's going to have to go to the voters. But there's no guarantee the voters are going to support that.
I know he's doing the same we all are doing. He's trying to come up with ways to close the gap. I'm sure next week is going to be a busy week for all of us.
Q: What else concerns you?
A: Asking the state employees to give up two holidays (and) to give up two additional furlough days. I'm just not sure how that's going to work without going through the collective bargaining process.
Q: What are your thoughts on health care and welfare cuts?
A: I just think the cuts are a little deep. We've already cut them once. We've already proposed to delay any increase. At this point, I think we should look at some other areas.
Q: What concessions need to be made?
A: We have so many choices. I just think we have to look at all of them and take more from some and take less from others.
When I look around, and when I talk with people and ask them what they think about cuts, pretty much people I have spoken with have said they would agree to a limited amount of increase in sales tax rather than lose their jobs. I think we're going to have to consider that sales tax increase. It may be we have to cut more from health and human services. I would hope we don't have to cut more than we have already proposed.
Q: The governor has proposed reducing the school year by five days. Do you support that?
A: I'm just not sure. I haven't talked to educators. I'm not sure what the implications are.
Q: How about the sales tax increase?
A: Yes. I just haven't decided at what level. I'm supportive of some sales tax increase. I'm not supportive of the additional tax on services, an extended sales tax on other kinds of services -- vehicle repair, veterinarian services, amusement parks, furniture repair, sporting events. People are already losing their jobs. Small businesses -- that's going to affect them deeply.
Q: Do you support new taxes on alcoholic drinks and the oil industry?
A: I support the oil tax. I'm not sure about the alcohol. I'm not sure that would work. I would have to look at that again.
Q: What are your thoughts on borrowing $5 billion?
A: Usually the borrowing is not for income, but I guess if (the governor) decided that this is an unusual time, he threw it in. I'm not sure what his thinking is. I'm sure we will be discussing that in the coming week.
Q: What is the biggest challenge representing your district?
A: Right now, the biggest challenge is getting people back into their homes and creating a way for people to be employed. The lack of jobs and lack of shelter are the biggest two challenges we have right now in our area. Along with help from the federal government, I think we are going to be able to address those despite the budget shortfall. I'm certainly going to put most of my effort into those two areas.
Q: What do you see as the top issues for 2009?
A: As I've said, job creation, and I might want to ad education to that as well -- trying to make sure young people have an opportunity to develop skills that will lead to them being able to get jobs as well as go to college. We definitely need to create more opportunities for employment in this area. It is going to be our saving grace.
The top state issue is, of course, going to be the looming water issue. How are we going to take care of providing water for both the north and south?
I don't feel good about not having enough money to go around and not having enough resources, but I'm hopeful because we have really good people in the Legislature. I think we will be able to come up with something that will benefit all of us in California.
lauren.mcsherry@inlandnewspapers.com
Answer: As far as I can see it's pretty much the same as our proposal in December. It's just that he's ramped it up a bit. He's added some things that were not in there before. Most of the things we had discussed, just not at this level.
Q: Is there anything that surprised you in the proposed budget?
A: Reducing the income tax credit for dependent children. It would go from $309 to $99. That's just tentative. It's a drastic reduction. I just don't think I would want to consider that, although everything is on the table.
Q: Anything else?
A: The borrowing looks like it's been increased. However as I'm looking at it, it looks like it's for an 18-month period, rather than one year.
Q: Are you supportive of the governor's budget proposal?
A: No. A lot of it I am. I know that we are going to have to do things we don't want to do. Most of the items we discussed before, but not at the level he has it -- the Prop. 10 funds, the tobacco tax. He's included transferring that money, but the problem is that it's going to have to go to the voters. But there's no guarantee the voters are going to support that.
I know he's doing the same we all are doing. He's trying to come up with ways to close the gap. I'm sure next week is going to be a busy week for all of us.
Q: What else concerns you?
A: Asking the state employees to give up two holidays (and) to give up two additional furlough days. I'm just not sure how that's going to work without going through the collective bargaining process.
Q: What are your thoughts on health care and welfare cuts?
A: I just think the cuts are a little deep. We've already cut them once. We've already proposed to delay any increase. At this point, I think we should look at some other areas.
Q: What concessions need to be made?
A: We have so many choices. I just think we have to look at all of them and take more from some and take less from others.
When I look around, and when I talk with people and ask them what they think about cuts, pretty much people I have spoken with have said they would agree to a limited amount of increase in sales tax rather than lose their jobs. I think we're going to have to consider that sales tax increase. It may be we have to cut more from health and human services. I would hope we don't have to cut more than we have already proposed.
Q: The governor has proposed reducing the school year by five days. Do you support that?
A: I'm just not sure. I haven't talked to educators. I'm not sure what the implications are.
Q: How about the sales tax increase?
A: Yes. I just haven't decided at what level. I'm supportive of some sales tax increase. I'm not supportive of the additional tax on services, an extended sales tax on other kinds of services -- vehicle repair, veterinarian services, amusement parks, furniture repair, sporting events. People are already losing their jobs. Small businesses -- that's going to affect them deeply.
Q: Do you support new taxes on alcoholic drinks and the oil industry?
A: I support the oil tax. I'm not sure about the alcohol. I'm not sure that would work. I would have to look at that again.
Q: What are your thoughts on borrowing $5 billion?
A: Usually the borrowing is not for income, but I guess if (the governor) decided that this is an unusual time, he threw it in. I'm not sure what his thinking is. I'm sure we will be discussing that in the coming week.
Q: What is the biggest challenge representing your district?
A: Right now, the biggest challenge is getting people back into their homes and creating a way for people to be employed. The lack of jobs and lack of shelter are the biggest two challenges we have right now in our area. Along with help from the federal government, I think we are going to be able to address those despite the budget shortfall. I'm certainly going to put most of my effort into those two areas.
Q: What do you see as the top issues for 2009?
A: As I've said, job creation, and I might want to ad education to that as well -- trying to make sure young people have an opportunity to develop skills that will lead to them being able to get jobs as well as go to college. We definitely need to create more opportunities for employment in this area. It is going to be our saving grace.
The top state issue is, of course, going to be the looming water issue. How are we going to take care of providing water for both the north and south?
I don't feel good about not having enough money to go around and not having enough resources, but I'm hopeful because we have really good people in the Legislature. I think we will be able to come up with something that will benefit all of us in California.
lauren.mcsherry@inlandnewspapers.com
Leave a comment