Schwarzenegger's budget cuts, including eliminating welfare, draws scathing criticism

May 28, 8:00 AMCalifornia Statehouse ExaminerScott Sabatini

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Forget the publicity stunts, this time the governor is ready to
slice and dice the state's budget./AP file

Headline after headline today minced no words following the announcement of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed budget cuts.

San Jose Mercury News: "Shock, awe greet Schwarzenegger's proposal to end welfare."

Contra Costa Times: "Governor's plan could force some out of college."

Los Angeles Times: "Healthcare cuts would mean higher costs and possibly deaths, officials warn."

Capitol Weekly: Governor's budget "beyond draconian."

Fresno Bee: "State budget puts Hearst Castle at risk."

Long Beach Press: "When the state wolfs down funds, what can cities do?"

San Francisco Chronicle: "25 Bay Area parks may close from budget crisis."

After all the political arm twisting during the historically long budget impasses of late, and after being asked to alone carry the water on the recent budget propositions that were crushed by angry voters, the governor appears to have effectively made his point. Like a doctor wielding a hacksaw, Schwarzenegger made clear this budget is going to hurt a little.

Schwarzenegger's plan to cut all welfare, which in effect would return billions of federal dollars to save a few billion here or there had already been attacked by both Democrats and Republican lawmakers alike as far too severe.

Republican Assemblyman Jim Nielsen, R-Redding, said changes to welfare needed to be scaled back rather than chopped off completely.

You could almost hear Schwarzenegger chuckling over a big blue cloud of cigar smoke saying "well boys, you wanted cuts, you got cuts."

While clearly many of the governor's plans won't go fully into effect, the net result could well be painful cuts, increasing unemployment and the loss of high profile amenities like parks, camping grounds and even perhaps libraries. 

The reality is the state is going bust largely because of rampant increases in education and prison spending since Schwarzenegger took office. Prison spending fell into a federal receivership that has required billions in improvements. Education spending, according to Capitol Weekly, jumped by nearly $20 billion in two budget years. While K-12 enrollment stayed flat from 2004 to 2009, the budget escalated from $30.3 billion to $39.4 billion, the report states.

Cooler heads should prevail, though one thing is certain. The governor is done messing around with political negotiations with lawmakers, the one group polls repeatedly show as less popular than Schwarzenegger himself. The message of painful cuts has been made, loud and clear. Now it's up to the Legislature to do something more reasonable and lasting that chopping away where it will hurt residents of California the most.

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