Here's how some of the major news organizations are characterizing the governor's budget:
Associated Press: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to balance the next state budget depends heavily on spending cuts in health and welfare programs and higher health care costs for 550,000 low-income Californians.
Los Angeles Times: The governor stuck to his promise not to propose any new taxes. But the plan to close a projected $8.1-billion shortfall demonstrates in human terms what sacrifices Californians may have to make to avoid a tax hike.
Sacramento Bee: Despite California's brightening economic picture, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger presented a $111.7 billion budget Monday that would hold back money from schools, the poor and state workers to plug a $9.1 billion deficit without raising taxes.
San Francisco Chronicle: Schwarzenegger, calling California's formula-driven budget system lunacy, said the real solution to the state's continuing fiscal woes will come only when voters approve his budget-control proposals.
San Diego Union-Tribune: The governor also released a multiyear plan to overhaul the Medi-Cal state and federal health insurance program for the poor that will require 550,000 people to pay a monthly premium and will cut 110,000 people from the program.
San Jose Mercury News: In an affront to public employee unions -- Democratic stalwarts that the governor derides as ``special interests''-- state workers would have to contribute significantly more to their own pensions; lose two holidays; and potentially be subject to five days of unpaid furlough.
Orange County Register: A year ago, the newly inaugurated Republican governor presented a similarly stark plan to balance the budget but reversed his most controversial proposals after outcries from interest groups and resistance from legislative Democrats.
For lessons on how to use a metaphor consistently through an entire paragraph, look to Tim Leslie's quote about
the governor's budget from today's LA Times. "There's no question this budget appears bloody but these are the wounds made by a surgeon working to heal a very sick patient. If we fail to restore fiscal health now, the consequences will be far more disastrous than any short-term pain."
The budget release overwhelmed news of Sacramento's most enduring soap opera as legislative hearings into Kevin Shelley's handling of federal voting funds got underway. Shelley decided
not to attend the JLAC hearings Monday afternoon, sending seasoned SOS hand Tony Miller instead. After being
beaten up in her hometown newspaper over the weekend, new chairwoman Nicole Parra is now talking tough about issuing a subpoena to the secretary if he fails to show next time.
"Indeed, we are going to dot every 'i' and cross every 't',"
Miller said. Does that include the "i" and "t" in "guilty?" Miller used the G Word throughout his presentation. He must have just been speaking hypothetically.
CD 5 update:
Steinberg, Jones out; Ortiz in?
Wednesday is D-Day for state Board of Education member Reed Hastings, the millionaire who is now in the middle of a full-fledged campaign to save his three-day-a-month job. And he seems to have gotten a
tepid endorsement from Perata today in print, though the leader of the Senate sounded as if he may let Hastings go down to defeat.
"This could easily deteriorate into an ideological clash on the floor that would have absolutely nothing to do with his qualifications on the Board of Education," Perata said. "I think Reed Hastings is a guy you want in a public position. He's put his money where his values are, he speaks his mind, he's willing to engage."
Translation: This could easily deteriorate into a war between Perata and Martha Escutia, a war Perata is not interested in fighting over Reed Hastings.
Hastings isn't the only super rich California public figure having a bad time of it... Assemblywoman Carol Liu (D-La Caņada Flintridge) and husband/PUC Chairman Michael Peevey may owe the IRS
a cool $1.1 million after they tried to temporarially move their income to a charitable trust in Georgia. We're guessing we hear more about this in the Democratic senate primary in 2008.
You've all heard the rumors that the governor may pass on a reelection bid. We're not going to play that game, but it's always interesting to see
speculation about new movie roles.
In San Diego
the new mayor is also preaching tough love.
In LA,
Hahn leads the money race, with Hertzberg and Villaraigosa about $800,000 behind.
In more Under New Management news, the
Oakland As are for sale as San Jose denizens keep dreams of major league baseball alive. No truth to the rumor the As are changing their name to the San Francisco Athletics of Oakland.