Let's Seek Bipartisan Consensus
Fighting to preserve the status quo, Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez argues ("Cuts-only budget is not the answer," commentary, Jan. 16) the governor's budget will devastate public services.
The Democrats' approach to solving the budget crisis is to increase taxes, specifically on Internet purchases ($500 million), car registration ($6.5 billion) and by repealing the home mortgage deduction ($5.3 billion), to pay for more spending.
While we are facing difficult decisions, it is important that we put the so-called "cuts" the speaker refers to into perspective.
The governor's proposed 2008-09 budget spends just 2.3 percent less than this year, and most departments will see increases next year.
In some department budgets, accounting tricks and gimmicks are used to make spending increases seem like budget cuts.
While some claim that we have cut spending $12 billion in recent years, state spending has actually increased 40 percent over four years.
Only in Sacramento would increasing spending be considered a devastating cut.
We must make tough budget choices to address our $14.5 billion budget deficit. If we reject partisanship and scare tactics and seek bipartisan consensus, we can solve our budget problems and turn California around for hard-working Californians.
- Mike Villines, Sacramento
Assembly Republican Leader
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