Senate delays debate, impasse hardens

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Jul 8, 2003 | by Tom Chorneau, Associated Press

SACRAMENTO -- A delay in the analyses of the much-anticipated list of spending proposals by Senate Republicans kept the Senate from debating the budget Monday, bringing public activity on the week- late budget to a halt.

As the state began the second week of the new fiscal year still without an approved spending plan, lawmakers from both parties seemed content to retrench their positions.

"The Legislature is now in partisan gridlock," said Assemblyman Keith Richman, R-Granada Hills. "I'm angry about it. The issues that we face today are the same ones we faced six months ago, and we are no closer to resolving them."

An Assembly Republican budget plan was rejected Sunday night and many observers believe most of the GOP budget ideas set to come before the Senate in the coming days may find the same fate.

California's budget deficit could reach $38.2 billion by next July, but lawmakers from both parties seem unwilling to seek common ground.

Already suffering with the nation's worst credit rating, the state is operating for the first time completely on borrowed money. Officials say the state cash reserves will run out by mid-August if a budget agreement is not reached.

Steve Maviglio, spokesman for Gov. Gray Davis, said the governor will call a meeting of party leaders to his office sometime this week, but a time and date has not been set.

But private talks between key legislators are continuing on a variety of issues and there is some progress,said Assembly Republican leader Dave Cox of Fair Oaks.

But while Cox and Davis say an agreement is near, there is little evidence to support that optimism.

Democrats, who control both houses by big majorities, want to solve the budget crisis by imposing a variety of service cuts as well as imposing higher taxes. Republicans say they are united against higher taxes and because the state constitution requires two-thirds majority approval for passage of a budget, the minority party can hold up the process as long as they want.

There was much interest in the Capitol Monday about the motives of five Republicans in the Assembly who did not support the GOP budget plan Sunday. Along with Richman, other Republicans not voting for the budget plan Sunday were Assemblywomen Lynn Daucher of Brea; Bonnie Garcia from El Centro and Shirley Horton of Lemon Grove; and Assemblyman Abel Maldonado from San Luis Obispo.

Because five Republicans didn't support their party's plan, some say, that should give Democrats hope they will eventually find the six Republican votes they need in the Assembly.

"Finding six votes is an extremely high hurdle to clear," said Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, a political science professor from the University of Southern California. "But it could be that discussions are going on."

Jeffe noted that Horton and Garcia are in districts that may face strong competition from Democrats in the upcoming election and where changing demographics could make it harder for Republicans to win. She said that aspirations for higher office for both Richman and Maldonado could be playing into their decisions to distance themselves from the Republican plan that would impose deep cuts on public health and education.

Richman said his decision not to support the Republican plan had only to do with the fact that he does not believe the GOP proposal is well-balanced. Richman along with Democratic Assemblyman Joe Canciamilla of Pittsburg offered a compromise budget plan several weeks ago that included higher taxes and many service cuts.

Garcia said she voted in protest of the superficial manner the Democrats considered the Republican plan, although she said she would not support higher taxes.

Maldonado said he did not like proposed cuts in the Republican plan to education and health care. He noted that while he will be running for a Senate seat next year, the campaign played no part in his decision. He said he did not support higher taxes.

Horton and Daucher could not be reached for comment.

On the net:

California State Assembly

www.assembly.ca.gov/defaulttext.asp